China’s home tourism in speedy restoration as spring arrives

01.09

With the COVID-19 pandemic well under control across China, domestic tourism has seen a rapid recovery at the start of spring. A total of 4.1 billion domestic trips are expected to be made in China this year – up 42 percent from 2020, representing sales of 3.3 trillion yuan ($ 511 billion), an increase of 48 Percent year-on-year equivalent recently released by the China Tourism Academy.

Domestic tourism is still a trend

The academy’s report showed that stagnating outbound tourism offers an opportunity for the domestic travel market to develop. COVID-19 has sparked a global economic crisis that can last for years and has also brought about some changes in people’s consumption and travel preferences, as well as the management of the tourism industry.

Planning a domestic trip has become a new trend for Chinese globetrotters in the past year as the demand for overseas travel was previously directed to the domestic market.

A visitor photographs spring flowers. / CFP

A visitor photographs spring flowers. / CFP

Many industry insiders are optimistic about the recovery of the Chinese tourism market after the severe blow of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Tujia.com, a Chinese online platform for booking shared flats, announced on Friday that airline ticket bookings for the May 1 holiday of this year have already exceeded the number of 2019. With consumption being an integral part of China’s economy right now, travel resumption now provides significant support for the country’s economy and the incomes of local people.

“Now and in the future, we have great confidence in the government’s management and prevention work against COVID-19, and we are optimistic about the development of the tourism market,” said Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy.

Outdoor activities more varied, RV tours more in demand

As more Chinese tourists prefer remote destinations and more isolated adventures to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus, demand among Chinese tourists for wheeled trips, especially recreational vehicles (RV), has risen sharply, especially in the spring.

According to the Chinese tourism website Qyer.com, the Chinese prefer featured routes, niche tourism, local deep travel, and self-driving tours. Among them, the demand for outdoor excursions also led to rapid growth this year. The data showed that the demand for camping, RV tours, and self-driving travel increased 303.5 percent, 243.5 percent and 78.6 percent, respectively, compared to the previous year.

RV tours are more in demand in China. / CFP

RV tours are more in demand in China. / CFP

Parent-child trips require more comfort

The academy’s report also assumes that family vacation travel will become more common in the future. 42 percent of respondents said they will be traveling with their families this year, which means family-friendly travel products are an important part of domestic travel.

In response to this demand for travel, the travel industry has launched a range of travel products aimed at family travel from children to grandparents. Compared to previous years, similar travel products are being made to meet the requirements of epidemic prevention and control measures while improving comfort.

Parent-child trips. / CFP

Parent-child trips. / CFP

International travel possible in the coming years

International travel is just around the corner as the Chinese version of an international health certificate was officially launched on Monday by the Ministry of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The certificate, which includes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and serum antibody results, vaccine vaccination and other information, is available to Chinese citizens through a WeChat mini-program.

According to the ministry, a QR code is encrypted so that the authorities can verify the owner’s personal information. As more and more countries from around the world agree on the mutual recognition of health certificates with China, the international travel health document will play an important role in promoting the healthy, safe and orderly exchanges of transnational personnel and providing Chinese citizens with a solid guarantee of travel abroad Offer .