Since the end of the epidemic, domestic tourism has flourished, and domestic tourism has become more and more popular. However, international travel lags relatively late, which has a big impact on the economy. Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were the world's largest consumer group of tourists, but the epidemic has changed the consumption of Chinese people very much, and the changing tastes and disposable income of Chinese tourists may affect the outcome of the tourism economic recovery. As Chinese families become more sensitive and rational about **, domestic tourism is more favored.
In the past year, China has made greater efforts to stimulate more foreign tourists to travel across borders, and has also actively prepared, including implementing visa-free travel for tourists from Germany and France. As of December last year, international flight capacity (available seats on flights to and from China) was only 62% of the same period in 2019. But domestic travel has increased, with the number of travelers nearly 10% above pre-pandemic levels. At the beginning of last year, China had only about 500 international flights a week, but now there are about 4,600, which is expected to increase to 6,000 by the end of this year.
We hope that more foreign tourists will come to China to experience the beautiful scenery and food of China. And, now it is less complicated to apply for a visa and visit China, which is beginning to allow visitors from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Malaysia and the Netherlands to travel visa-free for 15 days. In the first 6 and a half weeks of the implementation of the relevant policy, 1470,000 visas. For Americans, visa applicants will no longer need to submit hotel reservation records, itineraries, or invitation letters, among other things. It has also become easier for foreigners to pay fees in China. In July last year, our main payment platforms, WeChat Pay and Alipay, also said that they would support foreign credit cards, allowing tourists to pay like locals, making it easier to spend at home.
We welcome tourists at home and abroad to spend the Happy Chinese New Year with us, and this year's Spring Festival can obviously feel the taste of the New Year is stronger, I hope that in the new year, everything will go well, all the best, the Year of the Dragon will be lucky! On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the God of Wealth greets the God of Wealth, and the wealth is rolling in!