by Hasan Muhammad

Every year from October 1st to October 7th, China commemorates its National Holiday Week, or "Golden Week," celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. But this week of parades and festivities is more than a simple holiday. This year, the Golden Week has been a whirlwind of tourism activity. Chinese travelers, undeterred by the pandemic’s lingering shadow, embarked on domestic and international adventures in unprecedented numbers.

Official reports highlight a significant increase in passenger trips and travel bookings, underscoring the renewed energy in the country’s tourism and consumption markets. The crowds at top tourist spots were more than just enthusiastic sightseers - they're part of a broader narrative of China's economic vitality. Tourism and consumer spending remain critical drivers of growth, and during Golden Week, this dynamism was on full display.

More than 278 million cross-regional passenger trips were recorded during Golden Week, a 5.2 percent increase from last year, according to the Ministry of Transport. Even more impressive, this marked a 24.8 percent rise from 2019, the pre-pandemic era. Railways, too, saw a surge, with over 18.5 million trips taken-a jump of 8.6 percent from last year and an astounding 26.6 percent from 2019. In total, the MOT forecasted 1.94 billion trips across the country, illustrating not just the scale of China’s travel boom but also the enduring vitality of its domestic consumption.

China's tourism sector is surging, and the numbers tell a powerful story. Cross-border travel, in particular, has seen an extraordinary rebound. Ctrip, one of the country’s largest travel platforms, reported that daily orders for both outbound and inbound trips have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels, setting a new record. This resurgence in tourism underscores a broader trend: the consumption market, the cornerstone of China's economic growth, is gaining serious momentum.

The National Day holidays extended the tourism boom that has defined 2024, with the first three quarters showing a staggering 4.29 billion domestic trips - up 16.8 percent year-on-year. Expenditures climbed even higher, hitting 4.32 trillion yuan, a 17.1 percent increase, putting the economy near its 2019 peak. This surge reflects something deeper: a shift in consumer confidence.

In 2024, China rolled out a series of initiatives to fuel consumption, most notably promoting trade-ins for consumer goods. By August, special treasury bonds worth 150 billion yuan were issued to local governments, all dedicated to this program. This economic strategy isn't just about spending - it's about resetting expectations. With the government fostering stability and growth, consumers are returning to the marketplace, not cautiously, but with renewed optimism. The result? A revitalized tourism sector that’s helping to anchor China’s economic recovery. Consumption remains the backbone of China's economic engine, and its growth trajectory has been anything but accidental.

These measures, in many ways, have become the quiet force behind the nation’s sustained economic momentum. As these policies gain traction, tourism and cultural consumption have emerged as key beneficiaries, showcasing resilience in an economy still navigating global uncertainties. What stands out is the strategic nature of China’s interventions.

The government has not only focused on short-term stimulus but also crafted policies that provide long-term structural support. This includes boosting disposable income, enhancing consumer confidence, and fostering a cultural renaissance that encourages spending. The results are palpable. In the wake of the pandemic, the tourism sector has rebounded sharply, reflecting a broader shift toward domestic consumption as a stabilizing force in the economy.

Editor's Note: The writer is a freelance columnist on international affairs based in Karachi, Pakistan. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of China Economic Net.