China's Chongqing embraces surge in int'l arrivals for Spring Festival holiday

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport has seen a surge in international passenger traffic as the Spring Festival holiday approaches, with foreign arrivals more than doubling year on year, according to local immigration authorities.

The Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, falls on Feb. 17 this year. The official holiday runs for nine days from Feb. 15 to 23, while the broader Spring Festival travel rush lasts from Feb. 2 to March 13.

During the ongoing travel rush, the Chongqing port has processed over 112,000 inbound and outbound passengers and more than 800 flights, marking a nearly 50 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

Foreign nationals accounted for more than 20,000 entries and exits, more than doubled.

Projections indicate that during the peak holiday period from Feb. 15 to 23, the airport is expected to handle approximately 80,000 inbound and outbound passengers, averaging over 8,500 daily, with a single-day peak forecast to exceed 10,000 movements.

International travelers drawn to Chongqing cited the city's vibrant atmosphere and festive charm as key attractions.

"I came to China to celebrate the New Year's holiday and then I will stay here to study. I hope I will have a good time here," said Linda Cirri, an international student from Italy.

"What we love about Chongqing is the vibrant vibe of the city, the lights everywhere, and it's called the Cyber Punk City. And there are huge buildings everywhere. So we love it. And it's really beautiful," said Irem Bayer, a visitor form France.

"I celebrated Chinese New Year in China two years ago and found the experience to be very positive. The streets were abundant with goods, and the atmosphere was notably more vibrant, lively, and joyful," said Andrea Colosio, a visitor from Italy.

The surge reflects growing international interest in experiencing China's most important traditional festival firsthand, as well as Chongqing's rising appeal as a global tourist destination.

Türkiye's annual inflation eased to 29.73 percent in September, marking a fourth straight month of slowing price growth, the Turkish Statistical Institute said Monday.

Consumer prices rose 1.84 percent from August, less than expected due to easing food prices, according to official data. Annual inflation stood at 31.51 percent in August.

Türkiye, an energy importer, has struggled with soaring inflation in recent years, although the rate has fallen substantially from its peak at 85.5 percent in late 2022 and around 70 percent in May 2024.

Last month, the government revised down its economic targets for the next three years, citing conflicts in the Middle East and flying energy prices.

Policymakers have raised this year's inflation outlook to 28.4 percent from 16 percent and cut the economic growth target to 3.3 percent from 3.8 percent.