Chinese paid to not travel for Lunar New Year holiday amid concern Covid-19 will be spread if the usual mass migration happens
- Chinese companies and local governments are paying people in cities to not travel for family reunions and sightseeing during the Lunar New Year holiday
- They are offering money, shopping vouchers, movie tickets and other incentives to stay in cities and minimise the risk of Covid-19 spreading as millions travel
Companies and local governments are offering workers and urban residents financial incentives to stay at home ahead of China’s New Year celebrations next month.
Cash bonuses, shopping vouchers, movie tickets, free entry to local attractions, and even food and decorations are among the incentives being offered to deter Chinese people from the customary mass migration that occurs every year at this time as they travel to be reunited with families.
Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in China. The 16-day celebration – which culminates in the main event on February 12 this year – usually includes reunions with loved ones and trips to locations that usually attract large crowds.
Chinese transport authorities estimate that 300 million rail trips alone will be made across the country during the celebrations this year. Last year’s lockdowns and government travel bans saw a drop of 50.3 per cent to 1.47 billion journeys – including air, train and bus travel – from the previous year.
