The just-concluded New Year's Day holiday, which ran from Thursday to Saturday, witnessed a significant rise in both domestic tourism numbers and travel expenses.

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the domestic tourism market saw 142 million trips over the three-day holiday, generating approximately 84.8 billion yuan ($12.13 billion) in spending.

The ministry highlighted that popular destinations included those with snow views and winter sports, milder climates, and vibrant New Year countdown events. Additionally, short-distance tours to locations near people's residences or workplaces proved popular during the holiday period.

In contrast, last year's New Year's holiday lasted only one day on Jan 1.