China's May Day holiday recorded 195 million domestic trips that helped boost the country's tourism sector. Revenue hit $17.48 billion during the four-day holiday period.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the figures account for a 13.7 percent jump from 2018's domestic travels, China Daily reported. The ministry said statistics showed that vacationing families made up for the biggest numbers of traveling citizens.
The ministry further revealed that tourists averaged 2.25 days of staying in a particular destination during the May Day holidays, allowing for a boost on catering and recreational consumption. Cultural activities were also highlighted during the period.
During the National Labor Day on May 1, the surge in tourists caused chaotic scenes at railway stations across the country. Roads were also blocked by the increased number of people traveling for the long break.
Some train passengers complained that they were turned away even if they had tickets to present due to severe throngs of people rushing to get home for the holidays. Railway staff pledged to refund the tickets of passengers who couldn't board the trains. Ctrip previously predicted that the holiday season might see around 160 domestic trips.
According to the South China Morning Post, the traffic management bureau under the Chinese Ministry of Public Security warned motorists in mountainside routes to take precautionary measures to ensure that they will arrive at their destinations safely.
At one point, a Shanghai-based motorist said it took her seven hours to get home due to traffic jams that brought cars to a standstill for long periods. Multiple outlets published photos of jammed train stations in Shanghai, Beijing, and other metros in China.
Despite the holiday chaos, it was reported that over 53,000 tourists paid a trip to the Shanghai International Tourism Resort on Wednesday. Over 54,000 citizens, on the other hand, opted to visit the Badaling section of the Great Wall.
Meanwhile, Beijing's International Horticultural Exhibition on Wednesday attracted over 320,000 tourists, the organizing committee of the event revealed. Around 132 activities were included in the event's itinerary including cultural performances and colorful float parades.
Themed "Live Green, Live Better," the popular expo opened before the start of the May Day holidays and is expected to close doors by October 7. The expo's most visited sections were the Botany Pavilion, the Chinese Pavilion, the Life Experience Pavilion, and the Guirui Theater.
The China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai also introduced new products that helped boost the city's catering and retail businesses. It is expected that numbers will increase further in next year's May Day holiday period.
