(Yicai) Dec. 30 -- Shanghai will roll out CNY90 million (USD12.8 million) in retail and dining vouchers as well as other perks to spur consumption during three major public holidays, namely New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, from now until March 3 next year.

Shanghai will organize more than 100 promotional events across key shopping areas, commercial streets and e-commerce platforms, covering food, goods, inbound consumption, Spring Festival purchases and night tours, said Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

Local governments in 12 major shopping districts including Lujiazui, Xujiahui and Nanjing West Road will invest the full CNY90 million during the holiday periods with thousands of merchants and restaurants participating.

For inbound tourists, tax refund agencies will offer gifts worth 1 percent of duty-free sales upon their departure, and mobile payment service provider Shanghai UnionPay will give 20 percent off for foreign cardholders spending more than CNY100 (USD14), Liu added.

The city will host over 300 artistic performances, concerts, as well as cultural and art exhibitions during the New Year’s Day holiday, with nearly 400 activities lined up for the Chinese New Year break, which runs from Feb. 15 to Feb. 23, said Huang Binbing, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Shanghai will launch a range of new offers and discounts across food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, entertainment, exhibitions and performances, said Wang Zhihua, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. Scenic spots, hotels, travel agencies and airlines will also offer special Spring Festival deals.

Shanghai will also carefully select and recommend the most cost-effective products to young people, families with kids, couples, senior citizens and inbound tourists.

Editor: Kim Taylor