Trip.com: Chinese Ice and Snow Tourism During Spring Festival Boosted by Olympics
International online travel services platform Trip.com on Monday released a report regarding domestic Chinese tourism during the recent Spring Festival holiday period. Powered in part by the current Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, snow sports-related vacationing has experienced an uptick in popularity across the country.
During the weeklong holiday, the number of users traveling by air increased significantly compared with last year. More than 30% of passengers that booked air tickets on the platform were aged 25-34. In addition, it is more common for parents to travel with small children this year, due to an increase in the proportion of consumers born in the past decade.
During China’s Spring Festival, the number of air tickets booked to the southern island province of Hainan increased by over 40% year-on-year, of which 53% were women and 47% were men. With its unique climate advantages and abundant tourism resources, Hainan is a popular choice for domestic vacationers of all ages.
In addition, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games have boosted snow and ice tourism in China. Skiing and hot springs have become a new way for young people to unlock the realm of ice and snow-related tourism. As of last Saturday, bookings for ski-themed hotels during the Spring Festival holiday were up 54% year-on-year, and ticket orders for snow, ice and ski resorts were up nearly 40%.
The Olympics have boosted the ice and snow tourism market particularly in northeast China. During the Spring Festival, air ticket bookings to northeastern Chinese provinces increased by over 50% year-on-year. Among the travelers that participated in skiing and skating in the region, 56% are male and 44% are female. In terms of age, consumers born in the 1990s have become the main force, accounting for over 40%.
Moreover, as the Chinese government advocated a policy of “staying put during the Spring Festival” due to the ongoing pandemic, themed hotels focusing on e-sports, murder mystery games, and audio-visual activities have enriched the accommodation experience of tourists. During the Spring Festival, the order volume of e-sports themed rooms increased by more than 80% year-on-year.
