China is launching a nationwide campaign to boost consumer spending during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday, which begins Sunday. Officials expect the move to turn festive demand into strong economic momentum at the start of the year.
The campaign focuses on the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar. It includes consumer goods trade-in programs, a prize invoice lottery, and improved services for overseas tourists. Authorities aim to help both domestic shoppers and international visitors enjoy the holiday and benefit from discounts.
“This Sunday marks the start of the longest Spring Festival holiday on record,” Vice-Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping said. He noted that the holiday is a peak time for gift purchases, family visits, and travel.
At the same time, China has introduced visa facilitation measures and global marketing campaigns such as “Shopping in China.” These efforts promote the festival’s traditions and vibrant atmosphere to international audiences.
Data from online travel platform Ctrip show a sharp rise in inbound tourism. Flight bookings increased 400 percent in the two weeks before the festival compared with last year.
Travelers from Argentina lead the surge, with bookings up 900 percent year-on-year. Bookings from European countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom rose more than 200 percent.
Sheng said China’s 13,000 tax-refund shops are fully stocked with premium goods. The tax refund program offers foreign visitors a discount of about 10 percent on eligible purchases.
According to the State Taxation Administration, the number of overseas visitors claiming tax refunds rose 305 percent last year.
Ekaterina Ermakova, a tourist from Russia visiting Beijing, praised the shopping experience. She said China offers many brands and styles. She also said she appreciates how Chinese people value their culture.
The Commerce Ministry is encouraging local governments to publish multilingual Spring Festival folklore maps. These guides help foreign visitors find temple fairs, traditional brand stores, and cultural heritage markets.
Sheng invited global travelers to visit China during the holiday. He encouraged them to shop and experience the joy of the Chinese New Year.
Cheng Shi, chief economist at ICBC International, said rising international demand will improve China’s retail system. He noted that foreign consumers expect high product quality and service standards. As a result, domestic businesses will align more closely with global norms.
Cheng added that these improvements will also benefit local residents. A better consumption environment can unlock stronger domestic spending.
During the holiday, the ministry will guide local authorities to expand trade-in subsidies nationwide. It will also roll out the prize invoice program in 50 pilot cities with higher bonus payouts.
In January, China allocated 62.5 billion yuan ($9.04 billion) from ultra-long-term special treasury bonds to support consumer goods trade-ins. The National Development and Reform Commission announced the funding.
In addition, local governments have allocated 2.05 billion yuan for vouchers, subsidies, and digital cash red packets to support consumer spending.
Wang Qing, chief macroeconomic analyst at Orient Golden Credit Rating, said the Spring Festival naturally boosts consumption. He explained that targeted policies will further strengthen household spending power.
He added that a strong holiday performance will lift business confidence and improve consumer sentiment for the rest of the year.
Grace Tao, vice-president of Tesla, described China’s market as unmatched in scale and vitality. She said the market serves as both a sales destination and a testing ground for innovation.
Tao noted that feedback from Chinese consumers helps companies improve their technologies. She added that diverse real-world scenarios in China strengthen the global competitiveness of products.
