China's tourism roars back during New Year's Day holiday, topping pre-pandemic levels

China's tourism industry roared back to life during the just-concluded New Year's Day holiday, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in both visitor numbers and revenue.

Domestic destinations welcomed a staggering 135 million visitors over the three-day break, a staggering 155.3-percent surge compared to the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said on Monday. This figure even marks a 9.4 percent increase compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel.

The holiday proved equally lucrative, with tourism-related revenue soaring 200.7 percent year-on-year to over 79.7 billion yuan ($11.23 billion). Notably, this figure also stands 5.6 percent higher than that recorded in 2019, solidifying the industry's recovery and exceeding pre-pandemic performance.

The ministry noted a particular tourism boom in northern and northeastern regions renowned for their winter landscapes, including Beijing and Heilongjiang. Beijing, for instance, actively sought to stimulate the holiday market by offering 30,000 consumer coupons for snow and ice activities.