Yichang sees surge in tourism during Spring Festival holiday
Yichang Sanxia Airport experienced a surge in inbound and outbound tourism during this year’s Spring Festival. The 3,041 passengers that went through the airport over the eight-day break – a new record – represent a 262 percent increase on the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.
The numbers are small beer compared to major airports like Beijing, Shanghai or Frankfurt, but every journey begins with a single step.
The visa-free travel agreement between China and Thailand helped boost international travel from Yichang.
On February 19, Chinese tourists queued for a direct flight from Yichang to Bangkok, Thailand. Outbound tourist Hu Qi said, "I'm heading to Thailand with my husband to enjoy some warm weather. Traveling to Thailand is much more convenient now."
Travelers queue in the international departure hall of Yichang Sanxia Airport.
Many outbound tourists join group tours.
Xiong Dehou, a tour guide from Kanghui Travel Agency, said, "Today, I'm taking 26 Yichang citizens to Bangkok and Pattaya." He added, "There have been Thai tourists here during the Spring Festival, doing the 'Two Dams and One Gorge' cruise, for example, or skiing."
Lv Juan, a member of the Three Gorges Airport Border Inspection Station, said, “The airport has been busy during the Spring Festival holiday, with record numbers of passengers. It shows how keen people are to travel during the Spring Festival. And Yichang is becoming a popular destination for foreign tourists at this time of year.”
Travelers check in.
New routes from Yichang Sanxia Airport to Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea are likely to open this year.
