China's zero-COVID holiday: May Day week travel to slump 80%

Retail, service, tourism and real estate sectors poised to suffer losses

20220429N China Labor Day 2021

Domestic Chinese tourists, seen in Beijing, made 230 million trips during the May Day break last year. © Reuters

NAOKI MATSUDA and YUSUKE HINATA, Nikkei staff writers

SHANGHAI/GUANGZHOU -- China's May Day holiday travel is on track to drop by nearly 80% compared with last year, according to official outlooks, as COVID-19 lockdowns in major urban centers continue to take their toll.

Known as Labor Day in China, this year's break will take place for five days starting Saturday. Domestic travel last year during that span exceeded 230 million trips, and the holiday usually serves as major revenue generator for retail and service industries.

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