Beijing's two major international airports are expecting a surge in tourist numbers, especially outbound tourists, during the five-day May Day holiday.
According to online travel platforms, bookings for international flights departing on May 1, the first day of the holiday, hit a new one-day high, marking a 20 percent increase over pre-pandemic 2019 levels and highlighting a renewed enthusiasm for international travel.
The Middle East and Europe are popular outbound destinations for this year's May Day holiday, with flight bookings rising significantly compared to the same period in 2019. Bookings to visa-free destinations including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Kazakhstan have also increased.
During the holiday, Beijing Capital International Airport is expected to handle a total of 918,300 tourists, up 21 percent from last year. While Beijing Daxing International Airport has scheduled 4,364 flights, an increase on both domestic and international routes.
"With the expansion of the visa-free policy for China's ordinary passports, there has been a growing enthusiasm for outbound travel among mainland residents. We expect to see a significant increase in outbound passenger traffic during the holiday season this year. According to current figures, the number of inbound and outbound flights [at Daxing Airport] during the holiday period will be no less than 70, and the average daily number of outbound passengers will be no less than 14,000," said Li Xin, an officer at the entry-exit border checkpoint at Beijing Daxing International Airport.
Beijing airports are also adding international flights to meet the needs of tourists with Beijing Capital International Airport planning to resume flights to Havana, Riyadh, London Gatwick, Edinburgh, Prague and Baghdad, and add flights to Frankfurt, Vienna, Incheon, Sapporo and other foreign cities.
"Currently, there are 83 international flights at Beijing Capital Airport, including 42 intercontinental flights, with two or more flights per day. The number of intra-Asia flights has reached 41, with three or more flights per day," said Shi Mengmeng, director of the aviation operation sector of Beijing Capital International Airport.
Beijing airports expect surge in outbound tourist numbers during holiday
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a restrictive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, during which they had in-depth exchanges on strategic issues of common concern.
The world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi noted, adding that in the face of the ever-evolving world landscape with volatility and turmoil, China has maintained its strategic resolve.
He said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have overcome various difficulties and challenges, and are striving to promote high-quality development and Chinese modernization.
China is willing to work with Russia and other countries to enhance solidarity and cooperation, steer global governance in the right direction, jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and promote world peace and common development, Xi said.
Noting that China's development is unstoppable and that no force can contain China's growth and progress, Putin said that Russia is willing to improve cooperation with China and other Global South countries to promote international fairness and justice, and to work toward a more equal and multipolar world.
The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis.
Xi elaborated on China's consistent position and efforts to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, stressing that to deal with any major issue, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.
He said the core of the Global Security Initiative is advocating the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and the fundamental solution to the Ukraine issue is to promote the establishment of a new balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.
Xi said China supports the convening of an international peace conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine at an appropriate time with equal participation and fair discussion of all options, so as to push for an early political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Putin introduced the relevant views and positions of Russia, saying that Russia appreciates China's objective, just and balanced position on the Ukraine issue and welcomes China to continue to play an important and constructive role in the political settlement of the issue. Russia is committed to resolving the Ukraine issue through political negotiations and is willing to demonstrate sincerity and maintain close communication with China in this regard, he said.
Xi said that over the years, they have had many meetings and every exchange has been candid, in-depth and fruitful.
Xi said he is ready to stay in close contact with President Putin and work together to steer the development of China-Russia relations in the right direction, guide the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era to achieve steady and lasting progress, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute to world security and stability.
Putin thanked Xi for his warm hospitality, saying that he is willing to maintain close communication with Xi, implement the important consensus reached between them, and ensure the full development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
