China witnesses travel boom during May Day holiday

In Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, ASEAN-themed tourism has gained momentum given the region's proximity to Southeast Asia.

"The number of people visiting here in the first quarter almost quadrupled compared to that of the same period of 2019, while operating revenue has seen explosive growth," said Hu Yang, marketing director of Fantawild Asian Legend, a theme park in Nanning showcasing the cultures of 10 ASEAN countries.

Hu said more and more visitors are flowing in from outside the region, indicating a strong rebound in tourism nationwide.

The service sector nationwide has been scrambling to cope with an influx of tourists, as many have been out and about and keen to spend.

Zhuo Bingyue, who owns a Thai cuisine eatery in Nanning, said her business has seen an unrelenting inflow of customers waiting in lines.

"We have guests all day long, with all the tables on the two floors occupied," she said, adding that she has rented the storefront next door, with a view to expanding her eatery.

A recent report issued by the China Tourism Academy said that the number of domestic tourist trips will reach about 4.55 billion in 2023, a surge of 73 percent year on year. The total number of inbound and outbound tourist trips will surpass 90 million, doubling from a year ago.