Semafor Signals
Insights form Caixin, 21st Century Business Herald, and 36kr
The News
China’s 1.4 billion people are getting ready for the busiest travel season of the year as Lunar New Year approaches. Celebrations officially begin on Feb. 10, but the 40-day travel period surrounding the Spring Festival kicks off on Friday. Analysts and government officials are predicting it will be China’s busiest domestic travel event ever.
But Beijing’s shaky economy means that tourists’ travel habits are vastly different from what they were a few years ago. New destinations are emerging as must-visit hotspots, and Chinese social media influencers are recommending sustainable approaches to celebrating the holidays.
SIGNALS
Affordability and social media trends are driving regional tourism
The northern Chinese city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province has become an unlikely tourism hotspot this holiday season. The…