Chart of the Day: China’s Labor Day Tourism Rebounds to Near Pre-Covid Levels

China’s virus-hit tourism activity bounced back to near pre-epidemic levels during the Labor Day holiday, official data showed, adding to signs that the economic recovery is maintaining its momentum.

As many as 230 million domestic trips were made during the five-day holiday that ended 0n May 5, an increase of 119.7% from a year ago, data (link in Chinese) from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism showed on Wednesday. Compared to the shorter, four-day holiday in May 2019, the number of average daily domestic trips during this year’s holiday was down 5.6%, according to Caixin calculations based on official data.

Chinese tourists spent 113.2 billion yuan ($17.5 billion) domestically during the holiday, up 138.1% year-on-year, the data showed. The average daily tourist spending during this year’s holiday was down 23% from that of 2019.

The figures point to a quick recovery in consumption, which lagged behind industrial activity in the broader economic recovery last year. The revival of tourism activity was partly thanks to the government’s efforts to accelerate vaccination and impose strict border controls.

Signs of tourism recovery were already visible during the Qingming, or Tomb-Sweeping, festival in early April, with travelers making 102 million domestic trips. The figure was more than double that of the previous year’s holiday.

Contact reporter Tang Ziyi (ziyitang@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)

Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go.

Follow the Chinese markets in real time with Caixin Global’s new stock database.