New Delhi, Sept. 19 -- China has opened investigations into several major online travel and hotel-booking platforms, including an Alibaba-backed business and a Meituan unit, for suspected violations of unfair competition rules. The regulatory action comes as Beijing intensifies scrutiny of digital platforms while seeking to revive consumer spending in a slowing economy.

The Beijing branch of China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) is investigating Meituan unit Beijing Sankuai Information Technology, Alibaba unit Hangzhou Taomei Aviation Services, Tongcheng Network Technology and Tujia Online Information Technology (Tianjin), according to the official CCTV broadcaster.

The investigations were launched after preliminary ...