China’s Covid Rules Wreak Havoc With Holidays in Blow to Economy
- Authorities repeatedly call on consumers to stay local
- Road traffic, box office seen falling as air ticket price dips
Travelers at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station ahead of the Golden Week holiday in Shanghai.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Chinese holidaymakers are bracing for more disruption during a weeklong break as the government tightens controls to contain Covid outbreaks before the Communist Party’s top leaders meet in Beijing for a crucial political meeting.
Passenger trips by road are expected to plunge by about 30% from a year ago during the National Day break, according to government data. Prices of air tickets for the period are lower compared to last year and travelers are taking shorter journeys, figures from hotel booking sites show. Cinema box office takings are expected to decline by more than 20%.