China's tourism revenue expected to hit 167.7b yuan during spring holidays

BEIJING - Tourism revenue in China is estimated to reach 167.7 billion yuan ($26.7 billion) during the upcoming spring holidays, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Tuesday.

The revenue will be driven by 339 million domestic tourist trips during the holidays for Tomb-Sweeping Day, International Labor Day, and the Dragon Boat Festival which fall in April, May and June, respectively, according to the ministry.

About 84.8 percent of Chinese residents are willing to travel in the second quarter of the year, with 37.3 percent of the respondents in favor of scenic areas while 20.4 percent prefer historic sites, according to a survey cited by the ministry.

Tomb-sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, is an important occasion for Chinese to honor their ancestors. Many also spend the three-day holiday on leisure travel.

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, and falls on June 18 this year. Traditions for the festival include racing dragon boats and eating zongzi, glutinous rice and fillings wrapped with bamboo or reed leaves.

China's tourism industry is key to the country's shift towards a more service-driven economy and is a useful indicator of the strength of consumer spending.