CHINESE domestic tourism saw a robust rebound over the just-ended Golden Week holiday, encouraged by the country’s success in stamping out the novel coronavirus, although levels were still well short of last year.
Tourism sites around China were visited by 637 million domestic tourists over the eight-day period that started Oct 1, 2020, 79% of last year’s total, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism said in a statement yesterday.
Domestic tourism revenues stood at 466.56 billion yuan (RM288.09 bil) 69.9% of last year’s figure, it added.
The holiday was extended by one day this year as it overlapped with the country’s mid-autumn festival.
While still below last year’s figures, the numbers reflect a surge from a tentative pickup in demand seen in recent months.
Separate data from the commerce ministry showed average daily sales at key retail and catering enterprises rose 4.9% over the holiday period from a year earlier, with sales totalling 1.6 trillion yuan (RM987.9 bil).
It also noted strong car sales growth in some areas around the country, with sales in Beijing 23.5% higher.
The National Day holiday, which marks the founding of modern China, is traditionally one of the country’s busiest times for travel. – Oct 9, 2020
