China is seeing a surge in consumption activities across sectors such as transport, travel and the film market, with the summer holiday period getting underway.
Approximately 37,000 cultural tourism consumption events will be launched across the country during the summer season, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Covering more than 4,000 consumption categories, these events will be held during the typical peak season for travel and consumption, along with favorable measures for consumers, such as the provision of coupons, discounts, and cheaper package deals.
Consumotion promotion activities held in Shanghai, China, June 29, 2024. /CFP
The domestic travel market is experiencing a significant surge, with searches for hotels and flight tickets recording a 20 percent increase compared with the same period last year. Notably, long distance travels account for more than 70 percent of this year's summer vacation bookings, according to a report by Trip.com, one of China's largest online travel agencies.
Tourists playing by the beachside in Weihai, Shandong Province, China, June 30, 2024. /CFP
Due to a surge in travel demand, the country's transport network has also entered a busy period. During this year's summer travel rush, the country's railway transport system is expected to handle a total of 860 million passenger trips during the summer season, which begins on July 1 and will end on Aug 31, according to the China State Railway Group.
Travelers at Nanjing railway station, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, July 1, 2024. /CFP
Cross-border travel during this period has also seen robust growth. Bookings for inbound travel doubled over the same period last year. In particular, bookings from countries to which China grants visa-free entry, such as France, Italy, and Malaysia, rose by 150 percent year-on-year.
(With input from Xinhua)