<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-10-03/National-Day-holiday-day-2-China-s-travel-surge-fuels-market-vitality-1xoTVupF7eU/img/76c484e926174d64a8e2e9e45e43f0e0/76c484e926174d64a8e2e9e45e43f0e0.png' alt='Travelers visit Macao during the National Day holiday, Macao, south China, October 3, 2024. /CFP'
The second day of the National Day holiday period saw cross-regional travel within China reaching more than 280 million trips, a 4.1-percent increase compared to the same period in 2023 and a 15-percent rise compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Ministry of Transport on Thursday.
During the week-long National Day holiday starting on October 1, Chinese people take a break to travel and enjoy leisure activities. On Tuesday, the number of railway trips made by Chinese passengers hit 21.45 million, signaling a record-high number of daily railway passenger trips, the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) said on Wednesday.
This year, the country’s transport sector is expected to handle a daily average of 277 million passenger trips during the holiday, a 19.4-percent increase compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Data released by the Macao Government Tourism Office shows 166,100 visitors entered China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on October 2, surpassing the previous single-day record of 162,100 set on October 5, 2019, and becoming the highest number of daily visitors recorded during the National Day holiday since official statistics began being kept.
To boost consumption during the National Day holiday, the Macao SAR, in cooperation with the Macao Chamber of Commerce, launched a large-scale shopping event starting September 30. More than 22,000 businesses from various sectors are participating in the event. The business community expects the event, amplified by the festive atmosphere, to generate better results and drive business growth.
The Macao SAR also held a series of events on Tuesday to celebrate National Day, including a flag-raising ceremony, the opening of the fourth sea-crossing bridge and a fireworks show.
The Macao Consumer Council has been distributing guides at major border checkpoints, providing travelers with information about the “certified shops” quality and avenues for consumer protection in Macao. According to the council, the move is intended to offer visitors valuable resources when shopping in the region.
Some travelers have found the guide to be comprehensive and practical, providing helpful insights. The council noted that by proactively introducing the “certified shops” initiative, visitors can become more familiar with Macao’s consumer market, thereby boosting their confidence in making purchases.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-10-03/National-Day-holiday-day-2-China-s-travel-surge-fuels-market-vitality-1xoTVupF7eU/img/91256dcf74914fa39061528e2d7c18fb/91256dcf74914fa39061528e2d7c18fb.jpeg' alt='A moviegoer passes a movie poster in a cinema in Fuyang City, east China's Anhui Province, October 2, 2024. /CFP '
Holiday box office surges
China’s box office earnings, including pre-sales, during the October 1 to October 7 National Day holiday has surpassed 1.1 billion yuan ($156 million) as of 4:18 p.m. on October 3, according to box office tracker Dengta Data.
“The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death,” the second installment of Chinese director Chen Kaige’s “The Volunteers” trilogy, topped the holiday box office chart with total earnings of 347 million yuan.
Meanwhile, Chinese science fiction film “Bureau 749” secured second place with around 288 million yuan.
Third place went to “Tiger Wolf Rabbit,” a crime drama in which three people who have each lost a child become entangled, earning 183 million yuan.
