Venezuelan shopping malls extend operating hours amid holiday season

Shopping malls in Venezuela have extended their operating hours for the holiday season since the end of November, reflecting robust consumer demand despite the country's heightened tensions with the United States.

According to an announcement from the Venezuelan Chamber of Shopping Malls, the closing time for shopping malls has been uniformly extended to between 22:00 and 23:00 to accommodate the surge in shopping during the period. The association said that this move aims to make it easier for consumers to complete their holiday purchases while also stimulating the year-end economy.

Data indicates significant growth in sales across categories such as textiles, footwear, electronics, toys, and perfumes during the season.

In recent days, many residents have chosen to dine out and go shopping at local shopping centers, immersing themselves in the festive atmosphere.

"The shopping center is seeing crowds of people flowing in, and I think it's great! Everyone is out buying clothes and other items," said a local resident.

"It's a great place to go for a walk and relax with family, and the cost won't be too high. Despite the challenging situation we are facing, shopping at the mall can really help take our minds off the worries and relieve stress," said another resident.

Amid the tense situation between the U.S. and Venezuela, customer flow and purchasing power at malls have declined slightly compared to previous years. However, overall operations have remained steady, and promotions such as holiday discounts have continued to boost consumer spending.

"This year's situation is slightly quieter than in previous years, with customer flow down a bit compared to 2024. However, as you can see, there are still plenty of customers in the store, and overall business conditions are good. So far, everything is going well, with a good flow of people. The overall atmosphere was calm. We currently have discounts of 10 percent and 20 percent," said a store manager in the shopping mall.

Venezuelan shopping malls extend operating hours amid holiday season

American actress Zoe Saldana, who portrayed Neytiri in the Avatar film series, has shared her personal journey in performing the role for the latest film, which she describes as more emotional than the previous two installments.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" was released in the Chinese mainland and North America on December 19, after the much-anticipated sci-fi epic had its initial Chinese premiere at the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on December 8.

Saldana discussed the film in an interview in Hainan with China Central Television (CCTV).

"It's definitely more emotional than 'The Way of Water,' more emotional than Avatar 1. It's the Sully family, not just Jake and Neytiri. They have their children. And they just buried one child. So, they are finding themselves in a place where they are having to pick up the pieces. And they don't really know what they are going to do," she said.

The themes of loss resonated deeply with her, causing her to reflect on her own blessings, she said.

"My life, in 2017, I had all of my children. And my last child was still a baby. He was only four months old. So, getting to experience such joy and happiness in my personal life, and then coming to work to embody the skin of a woman who is absolutely devastated after losing her child was really hard, but I always felt that I had the support," said the actress.

She also praised the ambition and storytelling prowess of James Cameron, writer and director of the Avatar series.

"I do believe that James' stories, though fantastical, are still very relatable. I very much can relate a lot of themes that Jim is highlighting in his film," she said.

Avatar 3 star highlights emotional depth of blockbuster film