(Yicai Global) Dec. 8 -- Online searches for Shanghai Disneyland made on travel platforms soared after the theme park’s operator said the attraction will reopen to visitors today.

Disney-related searches on the travel site run by Trip.Com Group surged nearly 300 percent yesterday after Shanghai Disney Resort said in a statement that the theme park will welcome visitors again. It closed on Nov. 29 to comply with Covid-19 control measures.

The statement followed an official announcement yesterday that China would further ease Covid-19 controls. The authorities released 10 new measures, including changes in lockdown, testing, and quarantine rules.

Shanghai Disneyland’s reopening is “good news," said Zhao Huanyan, chief knowledge officer at Huamei Consulting Group. “The upcoming New Year and Spring Festival holidays will see a wave of minor peaks in the tourism market.

“Amusement parks can boost many industries, including food, accommodation, travel, shopping, and entertainment, and the 10 new policies will further help the recovery of the tourism sector,” Zhao added.

Shanghai Disneyland will be open between the hours of 8.30 a.m. and 8 p.m. To enter, visitors will need to have a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours of their visit.

The theme park last reopened on Nov. 24, with short queuing times for many of its larger attractions, Yicai Global found. At that time, nearly 90 percent of the people interested in visiting were Shanghai locals, but this time online search activity from around the country has shot up.

Disney-related searches on Tongcheng Travel’s platform, also known as LY.com, made by non-Shanghai residents skyrocketed 10-fold right after the reopening statement was released.

Editor: Martin Kadiev