BEIJING: The domestic tourism market has entered an off-peak period with declining prices of hotel rooms and flight tickets, providing travellers with the opportunity to take trips that cost less and feature smaller crowds.
After the Spring Festival holiday, the passenger flow of popular domestic tourist cities in various regions has gradually declined, and the prices of flights have dropped accordingly.
For instance, a one-way flight from Beijing to Chengdu, Sichuan province; Lanzhou, Gansu province; or Harbin, Heilongjiang province, all carry a price tag of around 200 yuan, excluding airport construction fees and fuel costs.
A one-way flight from Beijing to Haikou or Sanya, in the tropical island of Hainan province, is around 300 yuan, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
The elderly who have flexible schedules often embark on trips during this period, and they prefer independent travel and choose destinations largely based on prices.
In-depth tours of Yunnan province, Fujian province, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have been favoured by senior travellers, Qunar said.
“The tourism market has entered a long slack season and it will last until the next holiday, which is Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in early April,” said Qunar researcher Xiao Peng.
“March will be a period that is inexpensive and not crowded, suitable for college students, senior travellers and office employees who take annual holidays off work to travel.”
He added that during this period, small towns in China often become popular with tourists.
For instance, Zibo in Shandong province and Tianshui in Gansu province became viral online in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with their unique features. — China Daily/ANN
