China is seeing an extremely hot tourism market this summer, with both the number of travelers and the total amount of consumption hitting historical highs for the same period.
This year's summer travel season spanned a long period, with different consumer drivers varying across time periods.
The first wave of families set off at the end of June following the end of the country's grand college entrance exam, with a high proportion of long-distance independent travel. The peak season started in early July, as holiday began for primary and secondary schools nationwide, lasting until mid-August. During this period, the number of bookings for airline tickets, hotels, and package tours accounted for approximately 80 percent of the entire summer travel season.
Around August 20, with the countdown to the start of a new semester approaching, senior citizens and those preferring to travel off-peak became the primary forces on the tourism market.
"Our monitoring indicates that the number of travelers, travel expenditures, and travel distances have all reached record highs. Inter-provincial travel is more common than in previous years, with self-driving tours and wellness travel seeing significant growth," said Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Research Institute.
Data from online travel platforms show that among provinces nationwide, Shanxi attracted tourists with its rich architecture and historical relics; Xinjiang remained popular for its magnificent natural scenery and unique folk customs; and Yunnan maintained steady growth relying on its pleasant climate and diverse ethnic customs.
County tourism continued to be popular this year, with the order volume increasing by 42 percent year on year. Young customers are becoming the main force of county tourism consumption, as they are eager to dig deeper into authentic local life and culture.
China sees summer tourism boom with record tourist, consumption figures
