COUPONS STIMULATE CONSUMPTION
With the implementation of precise anti-epidemic measures, the overall COVID situation in most parts of China has stabilized, boosting the economic recovery in major shopping districts during the holiday.
In Hunan, tourists queued up to enter gourmet shops and took photos in Taiping Street, one of Changsha's most popular sites.
"I did a free nucleic acid test when I got off the plane. Here, you scan a QR code to enter public places, and shops provide hand sanitizer. Such policies make people feel reassured," said a visitor surnamed Zhang.
Zhang said the discounts offered by the shops were attractive, and he bought many souvenirs.
According to the commerce department of Hunan, the sales revenue of its 298 major retail enterprises and 72 major catering companies reached 2.02 billion yuan, up 0.6 percent year on year.
In order to stimulate consumers' enthusiasm, Hainan, Hunan, Shaanxi and many other provinces have adopted methods such as issuing consumption coupons and carrying out promotional events.
During the holiday, Hainan guided banks and business enterprises to participate in the distribution of consumption coupons for shopping, dining and tourism in the province, totaling more than 200 million yuan in value.
"It's a great deal using the coupons to buy duty-free products," said Li Xueru, a visitor from Shenzhen.
ONLINE BUSINESS
Online business, represented by livestreaming shopping and takeout service, has highlighted holiday consumption.
"I'm not in the mood to cook during the holiday. Although it's not allowed to dine in, it's very convenient to order takeout as restaurants offer self-pickup service and discounts," said Xie Yue, a Beijing citizen.
According to Chinese online food delivery giant Meituan, searches for pickup meals in Beijing increased by about 30 percent compared with before the holiday.
In Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province, livestreaming sessions on food, makeup and fashion were offered to stimulate people's holiday spending. On the first day of the holiday, the online retail sales in Fuzhou reached 360 million yuan, up 12.5 percent year on year.
The Ministry of Commerce said at a press conference before the holiday that it would work with local commercial authorities to promote consumption, introduce targeted measures to boost consumption based on local conditions, promote the sustained recovery of consumption and consolidate the fundamental role of consumption in economic development.
