Even though China has many things to offer to tourists who look forward to visiting the culturally rich country, this time, China’s Dragon Boat Festival has been one of the biggest contributors to China witnessing the highest number of tourist footfalls since Covid.
How China’s Dragon Boat Festival Has Helped Boost Tourism In China
When Covid hit the world back in 2020, apart from the obvious panic and chaos, a certain hesitancy built amongst travellers towards China.
This is because the outbreak of the feared COVID-19 pandemic was reported to have originated in China.
Even though travel restrictions were lifted over time with precautions in place, China’s tourism was deeply affected by the pandemic.
Footfall to the country saw a stark decline due to fears of contracting the virus in China.
But this recently took a turn for the better when the Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported that the number of tourist trips in China during the recent Dragon Boat Festival, which lasted for three days, increased by 32.3%.
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This was much higher than compared to the previous year. It reached an estimated total of 106 million. This figure is also 12.8% higher than the tourism levels observed in 2019 before the pandemic hit the world.
The Dragon Boat Festival, known as the Duanwu Festival or the Double Fifth Festival, is an official public holiday in Mainland China.
This time-honoured traditional holiday is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
The festival’s name, “Dragon Boat,” derives from the exciting and iconic dragon boat races that are a central part of the festivities. These races involve elaborately decorated boats propelled by synchronized paddling teams, creating a captivating spectacle for participants and spectators alike.
Beyond the exhilarating races, the Dragon Boat Festival has great cultural significance. It commemorates the legendary poet and statesman Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period of ancient China.
Qu Yuan, known for his patriotism and literary contributions, drowned himself in the Miluo River as an act of protest against political corruption.
The festival, therefore, serves as both a memorial to Qu Yuan’s sacrifice and a celebration of Chinese cultural heritage
Tourism Levels Cross Pre-Covid Numbers For China
The tourism figures in China serve as an important indicator of consumer demand in the second-largest global economy.
In their plans to implement additional measures to stimulate growth due to indications of a faltering recovery following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, Beijing is also closely monitoring these numbers.
The overall travel during the holiday period witnessed a significant increase of 89.1% compared to the previous year.
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Compared to 2019, travel numbers remained lower by 22.8%, as reported by the Transport Ministry figures.
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