May Holiday Mania: Soaring Skies and Ticket Prices
As reported by the China Securities Journal, there has been a tremendous surge in travel demand during this year's May holiday, resulting in a significant increase in air ticket bookings. Compared to last year, domestic flight reservations have experienced an astounding 812 percent growth, while airfare prices have risen by 33.86 percent.
Domestic travel orders skyrocket
Many Beijing residents are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming May holiday, which will be the first extended break since the Spring Festival. One Beijing resident surnamed Liu, when discussing his upcoming travel plans for the May holiday, shared: “During the Spring Festival this year, I returned to my hometown, but due to the limited break during Qingming holiday, I didn't have much opportunity to travel. Therefore, on May 1 we're planning to visit Qingdao in Shandong province. We'll enjoy beer and savor some delicious seafood."
The desire to travel during the May holiday is not unique to Liu as evidenced by the surge in travel bookings on major platforms. Ctrip reports a more than seven-fold increase in domestic travel bookings and an over 18-fold increase in overseas travel bookings compared to last year. Additionally, orders for overseas group tours have also increased by 157 percent compared to early April.
As domestic travel demand skyrockets, flight tickets to numerous sought-after destinations are on the brink of being completely booked
The explosive growth of the flight ticket market is attributed to the pent-up desire of consumers to travel and their urgent need to welcome back the return of the tourism market. The pandemic has given people a renewed appreciation for travel after being cooped up indoors for so long. Many residents are eager to explore new destinations and have a newfound sense of wanderlust. “Short domestic trips have become the go-to choice during the upcoming May holiday, which explains the booming domestic market," an insider from Ctrip commented.
Beijing residents are showing a strong preference for venturing beyond their province during this holiday season, instead of remaining within city limits. Recent data from Ctrip reveals a significant upswing in travel bookings for the May holiday to destinations such as Yunnan, Hainan, Sichuan, and Xinjiang. In comparison to the previous month, orders surged by over 15 times. This trend indicates that a majority of tourists are inclined to explore locations farther from their hometown during the five-day holiday. Moreover, the popularity of suburban travel within the city has declined this year compared to previous years.
May holiday airfare surges
As per the latest travel data, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Guangzhou have emerged as the top ten most sought-after travel destinations during the upcoming May Holiday.
However, the rising demand for travel has also led to a surge in air ticket prices. According to the data, as of Apr 10, the average cost of air tickets for medium- and long-distance travel during this year's May holiday has exceeded RMB 2,000.
advertisement
During the May holiday, airfare for popular routes has seen a significant increase. For instance, a round-trip economy class ticket from Beijing to Sanya costs around RMB 1,000-2,000 on Apr 28. However, the price jumps to RMB 4,000-5,000 on the first day of the holiday (Apr 29). In some cases, economy seats are even priced as high as RMB 6,000.
If you plan to depart on the first day of May Holiday, the total cost of a round trip from Beijing to Sanya is above RMB 4000
Based on data from Qunar, the number of advanced bookings for air travel during the upcoming May Day holiday has surpassed that of the same period in 2019. However, the average price paid for air tickets has nearly doubled, increasing by almost 50 percent compared to 2019. As of Apr 29, the price of economy class air tickets for popular routes such as Beijing to Guangzhou have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, a few economy class tickets from Beijing to Dali have already sold out for the holiday period.
The demand for tickets on flights from Beijing to Dali has significantly outpaced the supply
Many people have expressed a desire to travel during the May holiday, but the high cost of air tickets has deterred them. "I really want to explore other places during the May holiday, but the expensive airfare makes me hesitant," one individual commented.
Some people are not enthusiastic about traveling to other places and have expressed their opinion by saying, "Given the exorbitant cost of airfare, I would prefer to stay at home.” Others are saying that it seems that businesses are attempting to recoup the losses incurred over the course of the pandemic.
Have you made any travel plans during the May holiday? Let us know in the comments!
READ MORE
Mandarin Monday: Practice This Travel Vocab Before May Holiday
Images: Unsplash, Irene Li
advertisement
A Greater Gatsby: Livehouse & Bar Gatsby's Set for Reopening | |
James Zimmerman Rides 'The Peking Express' through Early 20th Century Chinese History |