Golden Week

Firstly, hope all of you kids back in the Middle Kingdom had a good holiday during the past week for National Day.

Secondly, an update of the 9-year lasting debate in the country on the justification of the Golden Weeks, which came into existence 9 years ago. Right time to talk at the closing of the 25th Golden Week in history.

Apparently the original purpose of the Golden Week plan as in to boost the domestic demand has been accomplished, if not surpassed, financially. In 1999 when the first Golden Week came into action on the October National Day the unexpected nationwide enthusiasm was evidenced by 28 million people out traveling and 14.1 billion RMB of tourism revenue. Up until the week of Spring Festival 2006, tourists out were 78 million, and tourism revenue 38 billion RMB.

However it has also been a valid argument that Golden Weeks are not the sustainable solution for economic growth，given the capacity, infrastructure, and customer service level in most of the tourist attractions. The easiest example can be that Forbidden City and Great Wall have both reached the maximum tourist capacity this year during the May and Oct Golden Weeks.



As the rumor has it, the new holiday plan has got into the final review stage and is waiting to go through the National People's Congress's review panel, and it's possible that the May week would be cancelled. Before the final decision is made, maybe you can take part in the public survey by Chinese domestic media?

　　调查：休假制度将调整，黄金周应如何改革，您认为 [Survey: As part of the Holiday Policy adjustment, how do you think the Golden Week schedule should be reformed?]

黄金周匀一点至传统节日 [Spare some days of the Golden Week for traditional holidays] 每周上6天，月末休4天 [Make working days 6 days a week, and a 4 day leave every month-end] 取消黄金周，带薪休假 [Cancel Golden Weeks, increase paid personal annual leaves] 挺好，不需要改革 [Everything is fine now, no need to reform]

Make your voice heard!