MORE than half of Chinese people consider the Golden Week holiday a favorable period rather than a time of stress, a top tourism official acknowledged Thursday (Sep 29).

"The weeklong holiday not only helps boost the country's domestic consumption and economy, but promotes awareness of going out and enjoying life," said Wang Zhifa, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration.

The number of tourists during the National Day holidays in 2005 rose 10.5 percent to 111 million, demonstrating the need for the break in peoples' lives, and the total income reached 46.3 billion yuan (US$5.79 billion), up 16.6 percent over 2004.

He said he plans to submit a proposal soon to the State Council to improve the Golden Week holiday system.

Many people complain about overcrowding, poor service and a scarcity of hotel rooms.

China adopted the three annual Golden Weeks of the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival), Labor Day (May 1-7), and the country's National Day (Oct. 1-7) in 1999.

Chinese people rested 6,051 hours in 2000, which was equaling to the international average, according to a survey conducted by Wei Xiang, a Renmin University professor.

Editor: Wing