hkskyline
December 18th, 2005, 08:23 PM
China readies extra trains, planes, buses to handle holiday travel surge
17 December 2005
BEIJING (AP) - China's airlines, trains and bus companies have been ordered to prepare for a flood of passengers as tens of millions of Chinese head for their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday, an annual migration that begins next month, state media said Sunday.
During the monthlong Spring Festival holiday which begins Jan. 14, travelers in the world's most populous nation are expected to make 2.04 billion trips -- up 3.1 percent from last year, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The State Development and Reform Commission has urged relevant departments to make sure that additional trains, buses, ships and planes are organized to meet demand, Xinhua said.
Local governments have also been ordered to ensure adequate fuel oil supplies are available during the holiday, it said.
The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important family holiday in China and in ethnic Chinese communities around the world, and is the key season for the country's tourism industry. Airlines and railways raise ticket prices to take advantage of the surge in travel.
China's transportation network has long been pushed to its limits during the holiday, while a booming economy in recent years has seen the number of travelers soar.
The number of migrants who work in the country's rapidly growing cities and go home once a year for the holiday has expanded enormously, with most traveling by train. This year Chinese travelers will make 144 million trips by train, Xinhua said.
Airline passengers are expected to make 15 million trips and 1.8 billion trips will be made by car or bus, Xinhua said.
17 December 2005
BEIJING (AP) - China's airlines, trains and bus companies have been ordered to prepare for a flood of passengers as tens of millions of Chinese head for their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday, an annual migration that begins next month, state media said Sunday.
During the monthlong Spring Festival holiday which begins Jan. 14, travelers in the world's most populous nation are expected to make 2.04 billion trips -- up 3.1 percent from last year, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The State Development and Reform Commission has urged relevant departments to make sure that additional trains, buses, ships and planes are organized to meet demand, Xinhua said.
Local governments have also been ordered to ensure adequate fuel oil supplies are available during the holiday, it said.
The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important family holiday in China and in ethnic Chinese communities around the world, and is the key season for the country's tourism industry. Airlines and railways raise ticket prices to take advantage of the surge in travel.
China's transportation network has long been pushed to its limits during the holiday, while a booming economy in recent years has seen the number of travelers soar.
The number of migrants who work in the country's rapidly growing cities and go home once a year for the holiday has expanded enormously, with most traveling by train. This year Chinese travelers will make 144 million trips by train, Xinhua said.
Airline passengers are expected to make 15 million trips and 1.8 billion trips will be made by car or bus, Xinhua said.