A city in Central China's Hubei province said on Monday that it will start implementing longer weekends from this month in a bid to boost consumer spending in the tourism sector that was hit hard by the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Authorities in Yichang, Hubei – the province once hit hardest by the coronavirus – plans to implement a two-and-a-half-day weekend from this month to the end of the year, to encourage more people to go on vacations during the weekends and holidays, according to a circular issued by the city government on Monday.
Other incentives include giving half-price tickets to tourists in some local scenic spots and rural tourist attractions and offering free travel vouchers.
Local authorities are also encouraging local travel agencies to launch more tourism products and tour routes that feature two-and-a-half-day weekend and meet customers' different needs.
Cultural and tourism consumption activities will also be held in scenic spots, historical streets, ancient towns and villages to spur the consumption of agricultural products and local specialties, as well as facilitate poverty alleviation.
Cities in about a dozen provinces and municipalities-including Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Gansu have rolled out similar measures to stimulate consumer spending in the wake of the pandemic disease.
