China's Golden Week to fuel domestic tourism as foreign travel lags

Hotel reservations up as businesses hope for jolt from eight-day holiday

Tourists in Shanghai on Sept. 24: China's upcoming holiday period is expected to spur mainly domestic travel. © Getty Images

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

September 28, 2023 11:02 JST

SHANGHAI -- One of China's biggest annual holiday periods begins Friday amid mounting hopes the break will pep up sluggish household spending in the world's No. 2 economy.

This year's Golden Week runs for eight straight days, as the country's Oct. 1 National Day overlaps with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Typically, this is a strong stretch for the travel and retail industries, and there are some promising signs amid the economic gloom that has hung over China in recent months.