Shanghai will launch six major initiatives this year to stimulate consumption, focusing on areas like trade-in incentives, integrated services, and synergies in tourism, exhibitions, and sports events, according to city officials at a briefing on Friday.
To align with peak travel seasons and other city-wide consumption festivals, such as the Double Five Shopping Season and Shanghai Summer, the annual Shanghai Tourism Festival will start in July instead of September, officials announced.
This year, Shanghai's consumption-driven activities will be more strategically focused, targeting new consumption formats, the service sector, subsidies for home item purchases and vehicle trade-ins, as well as enhancing services for inbound visitors, said Liu Min, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Commerce Commission.
The city is also aiming to improve synergies by leveraging iconic events like the Double Five Shopping Festival, Shanghai Summer, and the CIIE (China International Import Expo) Selected Goods Consumption Month, aiming to boost both online and in-store spending while optimising the shopping experience for both locals and international visitors, Shine News reports.
In addition, from March to December, Shanghai will host a series of campaigns, including the new product launch season, Shanghai Fashion Week, the Double Five Shopping Season, and Shanghai Summer.
The city will also feature major sports events like the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, the World Rowing Championships, and the ATP Rolex Shanghai Masters tennis tournament, all set to bring added energy and excitement to Shanghai's leisure scene.
Furthermore, the Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau announced plans to explore new formats, such as combo tickets for museum entries, major exhibitions, and sports events, to expand the reach of these key occasions and attract more visitors to the city.
On the community side, the focus will be on creating new consumption experiences, including distinctive market bazaars, shopping and leisure spaces that cater to nighttime activities, and enhanced daily lifestyle services.