Nanjing is joining with other places in China in promoting recovery of the consumer market by encouraging employers to offer staff a longer weekend. However, critics of the idea are skeptical as to how the populace may be coerced into spending.
This past weekend, Nanjing City government held a mobilisation conference with the aims to expand domestic demand and stabilise growth in the ongoing epidemic situation. Among the policy proposals being put forward is the implementation of a 2.5 day weekend.
Obviously, it’s great news for the tourism sector. Back in August 2015, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Several Opinions on Further Promoting Tourism Investment and Consumption”. This encouraged the 2.5-day weekend as a combination of Friday afternoon and the weekend. Since then, more than 10 provinces have issued opinions encouraging the long weekend.
Here in post-coronavirus 2020, many more places have introduced a 2.5-day flexible work schedule regarding weekends. On 30 March, the Hebei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism issued a guidance backing the move, while on 19 March, Jiangxi Province issued a notice saying that it would trial the initiative during this second quarter of 2020.
Elsewhere, Zhejiang Province and Longnan City in Gansu Province have also come out in favour.
Some other provinces have gone a step further and arranged supporting policies, such as half price entry on Friday afternoons to scenic spots.
Speaking with local media, a Miss Zhao who works in tourism, said, “If it’s true, I’d be so happy. Two and a half days is like totally enough for an easy short trip!” Miss Zhao points out that by setting out on Friday afternoon, many travelers can avoid a sleeper train or leaving early on Saturday morning. Either way, hotels can look forward to additional night’s booking.
According to estimates by the China Tourism Research Institute, domestic tourist arrivals are expected to be down by 56 percent in the first quarter of this year, with revenue declining by 69 percent.
The “weekend+” concept may turn out to be a stop gap, however. A few days ago, the central government issued a document clearly stating that national cultural and sporting activities, together with inter-provincial tourism, should not be yet be resumed. The extra half day off is the perfect promotion for encouraging people to take weekend trips within their own province.
Yet not everyone is in favour. Critics are pointing out that people who hold their wallets close feel that we are not in need of a holiday; we need cash. After all, we can only spend our money if we make money. Others argue that efficiency at work on Friday mornings would be difficult to guarantee.
Not long ago, when Xinyu City in Jiangxi Province implemented the 2.5-day flexible holiday policy, the accompanying request that people do not spend it resting at home caused heated discussion. Some analysts believe that while such holidays and flexible work schedules are intended to promote consumption, in the end, the government can neither force people to spend nor permit the earning of an extra half-day off by spending more.
Whatever the truth, the tourism industry, arguably suffering its cold winter ever, urgently needs a thaw.
