Shoppers targeted in bid to boost spending

Tourism discounts

Pan suggested that the aim of the vouchers should be to benefit people on medium and low incomes and industries severely affected by the pandemic.

For example, in Zhejiang, the provincial culture and tourism department decided to issue vouchers worth a total of 220 million yuan to boost tourism, which has been seriously hit by the outbreak.

Culture and tourism vouchers offer discounts for visits to scenic areas and stays at local hotels.

Shen Yan, a professor of economics at Peking University, suggested that based on the institution's report, a national voucher distribution policy be drawn up and digital technologies used to ensure transparency, efficiency and fairness.

"Through studying voucher programs nationwide, we believe that such incentives will be good to protect the high-quality development of the Chinese economy in the long run," she said.

Zhao, from the Academy of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, while confirming the role of e-vouchers in boosting the economy, said they are not a "once and for all" solution.

She said the vouchers are backed by administrative funding, and to avoid adding to their burden local governments should assess their financial situation carefully before deciding to issue them.

Wang Xianqing, chairman of the Guangdong Society of Commercial Economy, said he believes that local governments fully consider the characteristics of different industries and local consumption needs before deciding to issue e-vouchers. As a result, the vouchers can spur industrial development and boost consumption.

"Issuing the vouchers has proved effective in creating a good atmosphere for consumption and guiding people to spend in specific sectors," he said.

"But local governments shouldn't exaggerate or rely too much on this effectiveness," he said, adding that they should switch their attention from raising consumption in the short term to working out long-term policies to increase people's willingness to spend.