China's COVID clampdown threatens Lunar New Year spending

Restaurants and travel industry take hit with workers encouraged to stay put

A Beijing subway station on Jan. 27: Thirty provinces and directly controlled municipalities are urging office and farm workers to stay put during the holiday. © AP

IORI KAWATE, Nikkei staff writer

January 28, 2021 13:00 JST

BEIJING -- China looks to discourage the usual wave of travelers nationwide visiting family for Lunar New Year festivities, but the restrictions intended to protect against COVID-19 will dampen holiday consumption and hinder the economy's return to healthy growth.

The holiday celebrating the Year of the Ox begins Feb. 12, and the government predicts that people across China will make roughly 1.7 billion trips during the 40-day Spring Festival period.