The ice and snow economy boost tourism in China, according to experts. The Great Wall of China, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, remains one of the favorite attractions of those who visit the country.
Train ticket sales for December 31 began this week. With the New Year and the Spring Festival about to arrive, Chinese travel platforms have recorded an increase in reservations for the upcoming holidays amid the increase in the country’s support policies to boost domestic consumption.
Reservations for group travel products for the Spring Festival holidays in Tunis during the second week of December increased by 40%, and reservations for airline tickets and hotels increased by more than 50% compared to the previous week, thepaper reported.
The report noted that the most popular national destinations include Beijing, Nanjing in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, Shanghai and Sanya in the southern Chinese province of Hainan, along with other popular cities.
In terms of international travel, Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul and Singapore were very popular flight reservations at the online travel agency Qunar.
Themed travel products around the experience of traditional customs, cultural and museum tours, ice and snow activities and cold weather escape are particularly popular, according to the report. Meanwhile, family groups with children represent about 80% of GZL International Travel Service travelers.
While the New Year’s break on January 1 is only one day, many travelers choose to combine it with other breaks. From December 28 to January 5, the average price of domestic airline tickets remained at about 820 yuan ($112.56), an increase of about 8% compared to last year, Beijing Youth Daily reported.
Upcoming vacations are likely to see an increase in travel, especially as relevant authorities and localities are currently driving the development of the ice and snow economy, said Jiang Yiyi, vice dean of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing University of Sport, adding that relevant products and services have continuously improved.
Jiang pointed out that the prosperous development of ice and snow tourism can also be combined with cultural tourism and wellness tourism, which will further enrich the travel experience of tourists.
The integration of culture and tourism has created a strong impetus to promote national travel and consumption, said Song Ding, a researcher at the China Development Institute. With the stimulus of consumption taking effect and the implementation of new concepts such as the ice and snow economy, Song hopes that the momentum will continue during the winter holidays.
The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced plans for 12 winter tourism-themed travel routes throughout the country, with the aim of further activating the ice and snow economy during the 2024- 25 winter season.
The 12 travel routes are established in Beijing, the municipality of Chongqing in southwest China and the province of Sichuan, the three provinces of northeastern China and other regions. These travel routes include places to practice winter sports, the Great Wall, picturesque places, nature reserves, museums and special festive events, intended to promote and further expand consumption related to ice and snow tourism.