Tourists take photos of kangaroos at the Nantong Forest Safari Park during the National Day holiday in 2021. [Photo/WeChat account: wxntfb]

Consumer spending in Nantong, Jiangsu province, boomed during the seven-day National Day holiday in the first week of October, driven by the huge demand for catering services and entertainment businesses.

During the "Golden Week", 12 major scenic spots in Nantong received nearly 830,000 visitors and generated about 22 million yuan ($3.41 million) in ticket revenue.

Statistics from the city's commerce bureau indicated that consumption in catering and accommodation services rose quickly. The combined revenue of major restaurants reached 32.5 million yuan during the seven days, up 19.8 percent compared with the same period last year, while the revenue in the accommodation sector reached 5.45 million yuan, up 12.4 percent year-on-year.

All cultural and entertainment venues, as well as A-level scenic spots in Nantong were opened to the public during the holiday, albeit with strict epidemic prevention and control measures.

Many scenic spots, including Zhou Ji Green Expo Garden, Seyuan Garden and Junshan Mountain, introduced discounted tickets and a variety of recreational activities to attract visitors.

The 2021 China Nantong Jianghai International Culture and Tourism Festival also opened ahead of the holiday on Sept 29. The festival, which will feature a wide range of activities aimed at stimulating consumption, will run for two months.