China's cultural and tourism sectors witnessed unprecedented activity during this year's Spring Festival holiday, with domestic trips surging to 596 million across the nine-day celebration period. The latest figures from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism reveal a 19% increase compared to 2025's eight-day holiday totals, signaling robust recovery in consumer confidence and domestic tourism.
Travel spending reached new heights at 803 billion yuan ($116 billion), marking a 19% year-over-year growth. This dual achievement in both traveler numbers and economic output underscores the holiday's critical role in driving first-quarter economic activity across the Chinese mainland.
Analysts attribute the surge to improved transportation infrastructure and diversified regional tourism offerings. 'The convergence of traditional celebrations with modern travel experiences has created new growth engines,' noted tourism economist Li Wei, speaking to KhabarAsia. 'From ice festivals in Heilongjiang to tropical retreats in Hainan, provinces competed effectively to attract visitors.'
Authorities reported smooth operations across major transportation hubs and tourist sites, with enhanced digital booking systems helping manage the record-breaking crowds. The data reinforces predictions of sustained growth in China's domestic tourism sector, which now accounts for nearly 7% of national GDP.
