China handled 765 million domestic trips in total during the week-long National Day holiday, with tourists spending more than 700 billion yuan (99.1 billion U.S. dollars), official statistics showed.
Both the number of travelers and tourism-related revenue outperforming the pre-epidemic level during the holiday, which ran from Oct 1 to Oct 7.
As estimated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's data center, the amount of domestic trips made a 5.9-percent growth year on year, also a 10.2-percent rise from the same period in 2019.
Domestic tourists spent a total of 700.8 billion yuan, reflecting a 6.3-percent increase year on year and a 7.9-percent rise from 2019.
This year's National Day marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
The "red-themed tourism" featuring patriotism was particularly popular, with visits to revolutionary sites and exhibitions surging 40 percent in daily bookings compared to last year.
In Dunhuang of northwest China's Gansu Province, visitors at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot gathered to sing patriotic songs at night.
In Yan'an of Shaanxi Province, the city once serving as headquarters of the Communist Party of China (CPC), an immersive musical drama "Yan'an Thirteen Years" allowed tourists to follow the performers and "touch" the piece of revolutionary history.
Cultural performances, sports events, and expanded cultural spaces also boosted the popularity of urban shopping areas and performance markets.
During the holiday, national-level night-time cultural and tourism consumption areas included in traffic statistics attracted 96.86 million visitors nationwide.
There were 44,300 commercial performances nationwide, a 14.5-percent increase from the previous year, with audience totaling 11.697 million, up by 13.3 percent.
Throughout the National Day holiday, nearly 3,900 events related to intangible cultural heritage practices were held across the country. The country's museums and World Heritage sites welcomed over 60 million visitors, setting a new record.
Additionally, residents living in cities also tasted fresh, healing rural experience in over 1,000 rural creative lifestyle entertainment activities.
According to the National Film Administration, the box office during the 2024 National Day period reached 2.104 billion yuan, with domestic films accounting for 2.017 billion yuan, making up 95.87 percent of the total.
Over 52 million movie-goers attended screenings during this period.
China sees quantum leap in travels, spending during National Day holiday
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
