New Year vacations boost tourism in China

04-01-24

• The three-day New Year's vacation left 135 million domestic tourists traveling, 155% more than last year.

China recorded a total of 135 million trips by domestic tourists during the three-day New Year vacations, 155% more than last year, which was marked by restrictions imposed by the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released on Monday (01.01.2024).

Also, domestic tourism revenue totaled 79.73 billion yuan ($11.23 billion), according to official data.

Between Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, more than 128 million trips were made on China's transport network, 78.4% more than the 2023 New Year vacation and 33.1% more than the 2022 holiday, according to Ministry of Transport figures cited by the official press.

Specifically, the number of rail travel increased by 177.5% year-on-year, and air travel rose by 140.3%, reports the Global Times newspaper.

The newspaper points to an increase in family travel, which opted for snow tourism in the northern parts of the country, especially the ice sculpture festival in the city of Harbin (northeast).

Record number of visitors in Chongqing

Meanwhile, crowds flooded downtown Chongqing city center, which witnessed a record 5 million trips.

he country's major travel platforms recorded "solid growth in bookings," according to the Global Times, which cites a 388% increase in overseas travel, according to data from the Ctrip agency.

It also adds that many localities stepped up efforts to boost spending, with vouchers aimed at boosting domestic consumption.

This was 135 million domestic tourist trips, up 155% from last year, noted Reuters.

According to expert Li Chang'an, quoted by Global Times, the figures are "a very positive sign for the recovery of the tourism sector", while the China Tourism Academy (CTA) expects the sector to recover to pre-pandemic levels and domestic tourism revenues to exceed US$845.09 billion this year.