Small ticket stubs unlock big spending during holidays

In an innovative move to boost tourism, many cities across China seem to be transforming simple travel tickets into powerful economic tools. The "ticket stub economy" initiative allows visitors to use transport tickets and attraction receipts to access discounts in multiple services.

In Huangshan, Anhui Province, travelers presenting high-speed rail or flight tickets receive discounts at local restaurants, hotels, and shops. The program creates a cross-sector benefit chain where spending in one area unlocks advantages in others. Similarly, dining receipts grant up to 20 percent off entrance fees to nearby attractions like Xixinan and Daling Mountain.

The results have been remarkable. Huangshan's Pedestrian Street reported 100-150 percent more visitors during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, with participating businesses seeing over 50 percent sales growth. In Changzhou, Jiangsu, a theme park combining pet zoos and immersive performances saw hotel bookings sell out completely, anticipating 20-30 percent more visitors with secondary spending rising 10-15 percent.

The integration of tourism resources demonstrates how small ticket stubs can indeed become golden keys to urban consumption, successfully converting visitor traffic into sustainable economic growth.