Provinces push paid leave to spur consumption

(ECNS) -- More Chinese provinces are rolling out paid‑leave policies aimed at turning time off into consumer spending, with Henan urging officials to lead by example.

Henan issued a notice Wednesday requiring employers to ensure all eligible employees take their full annual leave, while encouraging scenic spots and rural guesthouses to design packages around music festivals, farming experiences, Yellow River leisure, ancient towns and folk activities.

At least six other provincial‑level regions — Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Anhui and Tianjin — have introduced similar measures this year. The State Council's work report called for staggered paid leave for the first time, and the latest five‑year plan reaffirmed the system.

According to Song Xiangqing, vice president of the China Society of Business Economics, the longstanding over-reliance on statutory holidays has caused a tidal pattern in tourism, with overcrowding during peak seasons and underuse in off-peak periods.

Staggered paid leave policy aligns closely with the broader national drive to boost domestic demand and stimulate consumption, and is likely to turn leisure time into a steady source of spending momentum, Song said.