With an expected record-breaking 9 billion passenger trips, the yearly 40-day travel peak, also known as the chunyun or Spring Festival travel rush, is due to begin today. It is recognized as the world’s largest human migration.
In addition to celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year, the dynamic environment—which includes busy transit hubs and bustling markets—is expected to support the country’s gradual economic recovery in 2024.
On Thursday, Beijing Capital International Airport offered a glimpse of the expected travel surge. A joyful Chinese New Year ambiance was created by the large number of travelers crammed into the departure hall, families waiting for their checked bags at counters, and Year of the Dragon stickers adorning glass doors
The airport expects 7.2 million passenger trips during Chunyun, which is a 60% increase over 2023. Additionally, it is anticipated that the adoption of visa reciprocity laws will increase the number of foreign passenger journeys to 1.41 million, illustrating the global scope of this significant movement.
Speculators predict that the influx of travelers would not only heighten the mood of celebration but also serve as a trigger for higher spending throughout the holidays. Stories of pensioners, like Yin from Chongqing, going on self-driving road excursions and experiencing a pre-holiday travel boom make the spike in tourism clear.
The bilateral visa exemption agreement between China and Singapore is expected to strengthen tourism connections, which will have an economic impact that goes beyond China’s boundaries.
The news caused searches for hotels and related services to soar on Chinese travel sites, demonstrating the beneficial knock-on effect of these kinds of cross-border partnerships.
Domestic travel is also booming, with a notable spike in reservations during the winter months, especially in places like Harbin. According to Jiang Yiyi, deputy head of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, the flourishing chunyun is not only evidence of China’s advancements in transportation but also a catalyst for the country’s economy.
The nation’s railway system sees a notable boost in pre-Spring Festival ticket sales as it welcomes the record-high chunyun. With 61.08 million tickets sold, there has been a year-over-year increase of 159 percent.
Domestic airlines are working harder to handle the increase in demand. Air China, for example, is expecting 67,691 flights during the 40-day peak, a 32% increase over 2019.
Experts forecast that the consumption trend from 2023 will continue into 2024. With consumption accounting for 82.5% of GDP growth, consumption was a key factor in China’s economic expansion. The positive picture for the upcoming year is further enhanced by the increase in cultural tourism, which is best illustrated by the ongoing modernization of consumption structures.
Provincial GDP figures demonstrate the successes of the national economy; Guangdong’s GDP has surpassed 13 trillion yuan, while Shanghai’s GDP has grown by 5%. It is anticipated that GDP growth will be driven by the ongoing expansion of the consumption sector, particularly services, in the first quarter of 2024.
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