After the National Day holiday, air ticket and hotel prices dropped significantly, and the tourism market officially entered the off-peak travel window period. With the same scenery, at a better price, you can enjoy a "less crowded" journey. How much discount can I get if I travel during off-peak hours? How is the consumer demand for off-peak travel different from traditional holidays? In this regard, how can the cultural tourism market play new tricks? What’s the key to making “peak shifting travel” go further?
Prices of air tickets and hotels are reduced, and off-peak travel has entered the "best window period"
Data from multiple online travel platforms show that from today to the end of the month, that is, from October 10 to 31, the average price paid for air tickets dropped by more than 30% compared with that during the National Day holiday. In addition, the average hotel prices in some popular destinations have also dropped by about 20% compared with the National Day holiday.
The reporter's search found that in the past week, the bare ticket prices for routes departing from Beijing to Lanzhou, Quanzhou, and Urumqi, Shanghai to Lijiang, Shenyang, and Guangzhou to Qingdao and Chengdu were all around 200 yuan to 300 yuan. In addition, in many popular holiday destinations, the current average hotel prices have dropped by about 20% compared to the National Day holiday.
Shi Ke, researcher at Qunar Big Data Research Institute: During the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, travel in Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai-Gansu, and Western Sichuan is very popular. After the holiday, both hotel and air ticket prices have dropped significantly, and the overall cost-effectiveness has improved. The average price of many mid-to-high-end hotels in Xinjiang Altay, Tibet Shigatse and other places is as low as 300 yuan. At the end of October, luxury hotels in Ganzi, Sichuan still had low-priced rooms for more than 200 yuan. Departing during off-peak hours after the holidays not only avoids crowded passenger flows, but also allows you to travel at a more affordable cost, making it a good choice for off-peak travel.
Special reminder: Although low-cost air tickets and hotels are affordable, they usually have strict cancellation and change requirements. Passengers must pay attention to the refund and change rules, baggage allowance, flight schedules, weather changes at the destination and other information before purchasing to avoid "missing items" that may affect their travel experience.
Zhangjiajie, Hunan: Beautiful scenery and great travel experience
Off-peak travel has entered the "optimal window period", and many tourists enjoy the relaxing pleasure of slow travel.
In the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area, there is an endless stream of tourists from various places including tour groups and family self-guided tours. Tourists overlook the deep canyon on the glass bridge, experience the excitement of walking in the air, and take photos to freeze the beautiful moments. There are gurgling streams and lush forests in the canyon. Many tourists board the cruise ship and paddle on the clear water to immerse themselves in the original ecological canyon scenery.
Mr. He, a tourist in Shanghai: There are very few people, so your mood is different. In addition, the weather is very sunny this time when we come, which is very good.
German tourist Zabinet: We like it very much. We have never seen such scenery before.
Qixing Mountain, which is more than 1,500 meters above sea level, has a clear view, with mountains and peaks stretching out. The crowded crowds during the holidays have faded away, and the passenger flow in the scenic spots is smooth and orderly. The quiet and comfortable tourist environment allows tourists traveling during off-peak hours to fully enjoy the beauty of autumn mountains and rivers.
Ms. Zhang, a tourist from Hubei: The overall experience will be better because there will be fewer people compared to festivals, the queuing time will be shorter, and you won’t have to wait long to check in and take photos, making the travel experience better.
Gannan, Gansu: Innovating cultural tourism supply and creating diverse experiences
In Gannan, Gansu, local animal husbandry companies have turned modern factories into industrial tourist attractions. Visitors can learn about the entire process of yak milk processing in the factory. At the same time, cultural tourism departments in many places in Gannan have connected ancient towns, scenic spots and villages along the route to launch a one-stop combination product of "train tickets + tickets + accommodation", allowing you to experience multiple scenes in one trip, further activating the vitality of the post-holiday cultural tourism market.
Anhui Yingshang: Tourism popularity continues unabated, and silver-haired tourists have become the main force in off-peak travel
In Yingshang County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, local tourism has continued to be popular after the National Day holiday. Among the passenger flow traveling during off-peak hours, senior tourism accounts for a high proportion.
The Youjia Garden Scenic Area in Yingshang County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province welcomed many tourists early in the morning. After everyone entered the park, they started to play along different routes, enjoying the garden scenery and watching performances.
Wang Ruirui, the person in charge of the scenic spot: After the National Day holiday, we can basically welcome more than ten groups every day. We can now account for 80% to 85% of senior tourism in the entire scenic spot.
In order to better serve the elderly customers, rest areas are set up every 300 meters in the park to facilitate the elderly to rest. At the same time, the gentle trails and shaded corridors also reduce the physical exertion of long-term visits, and the considerate measures have won many praises.
Tourist Gao Hongxia: We just missed the National Day. I feel it’s really nice. It’s clean and hygienic. You can go there to have a rest when you’re tired.
Tourist Ji Bingliang: This place meets the needs of our elderly people to go out and play. It feels good to drink this tea.
It is understood that after the National Day holiday, the scenic spot received an average of about 2,000 tourists per day, and the single-day passenger flow was basically the same as during the holiday. The popularity of off-peak travel has not diminished, and it also allows tourists to have a more comfortable tour experience. In recent years, Yingshang County has promoted all-region tourism, linked Bali River, Ming and Qing Garden and other points into a chain, and launched special routes such as Silver Slow Travel and Study and Study Customization to meet the travel needs of different groups.
Jianshui, Yunnan: Slow down and enjoy the slow autumn tour of the ancient city
In Jianshui County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, the autumn sun is warm and the breeze is gentle. Compared with the bustle of the holidays, the ancient city is now more peaceful and healing. Many tourists choose to travel during off-peak hours to enjoy an autumn leisure trip.
Xianghuiqiao Station is a popular tourist check-in point in Jianshui County. Many tourists take the meter-gauge train to visit. At present, the sage on both sides of the railway track is in full bloom, with luxuriant flowers and endless purple waves, contrasting with the retro platform and trains. Tourists took photos and checked in among the sea of flowers. Traveling at off-peak hours allows tourists to slow down and savor the history and architecture here without queuing and crowding.
Tourist Ms. Zhang: There are more people during the National Day. There are fewer people coming these days, and the experience of playing is stronger. Taking the small train is also very novel for children.
Similarly, Shuanglong Bridge in Xizhuang Town is no longer noisy during holidays. On the open and clean bridge and along the river bank, tourists strolled leisurely in groups of twos and threes, leaning on the railings to look out, or taking photos and checking in, capturing the beautiful picture of the autumn water on the ancient bridge.
Inner Mongolia: The "Pupillaris euphratica special train" has been extended to save time and money during off-peak travel
Now is the best viewing period for the Populus euphratica forest in Ejina, and many foreign tourists come here specifically to see the Populus euphratica. The "Pupillaris euphratica special train", which in previous years only ran daily during the National Day holiday, has also been extended this year to provide tourists with an affordable travel option.
The "Pupillaris euphratica special train" departs from Hohhot Station at 16:53 every day and arrives at Ejina Station early the next morning. The operation mode of starting at dusk and arriving in the morning has allowed many tourists to experience convenience and benefits.
Tourist Mr. Zhou: Today I took this train from Hohhot to Ejina. I will arrive at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. I can play in Ejina for a whole day and we can take this train back on the same day. This is equivalent to saving me two days of accommodation costs, which is about more than 1,000 yuan.
There are more and more tourists like Mr. Zhou, and the railway department has also adjusted the train operation plan, extending the operation of the "Populus euphratica special train" that only ran daily during the National Day holiday in previous years until October 16.
Yin Fulong, conductor of train K7911 at the Baotou Passenger Section of the National Railway Hohhot Bureau: Not only have we increased the number of trains, we have also increased the original 13-car train formation to 18 cars, increasing the passenger capacity of a single trip by 40%.
During the interview, the reporter met a tour group from Zhangjiakou. The more than 20 tourists were retired elderly people. They took a special train to Ejina at the wrong time.
Tourist Ms. Zhang: We all went to work. We happened to come out and there weren’t too many people. It turned out that there were so many people there during those two days that we had no place to stay and couldn’t get a reservation.
In order to better receive tourists, Ejina Station has also opened a "Green Channel for Populus euphratica Festival" to provide priority services in ticket purchase, check-in and boarding for key passengers such as seniors and children.
Ni Jun, Deputy Station Director of Ejina Station of Hohhot Bureau of National Railway: During the peak tourism period of Ejina Populus Populus Festival, our Ejina Station has to receive and receive 4 to 5 tourist trains every day, and the number of passengers is 8 to 10 times the usual number.
What are the differences in consumer demand for off-peak travel?
How is the consumer demand for off-peak travel different from traditional holidays? Let’s listen to the analysis of Ma Yiliang, deputy director of the China Tourism Academy.
Ma Yiliang, deputy director of the China Tourism Academy: In recent years, there have been many people traveling during off-peak periods after the holidays. Many people feel that traveling during the holidays is too crowded and choose to travel during post-holiday off-peak periods. The demand for off-peak tourism is firstly due to the relatively high cost-effectiveness requirements. This includes two types of people, one is a person who is more sensitive to price, and the other is a person who is more rational about consumption. He is not so herd-oriented. His principle is that he can buy expensive things, but he cannot buy them more expensive. The second feature is that the requirements for comfort are relatively high. They can trade time for space. That is to say, although I move the time back, what I exchange is that the play space will be larger and more sufficient, so it will be suitable for people with a higher degree of freedom in time control, such as those with silver hair and freelancers.
What’s the key to making “peak shifting travel” go further?
Passenger flow has eased and travel costs have reduced. Many tourists choose to travel after the National Day holiday to enjoy the relaxing pleasure of slow travel. As off-peak travel becomes more popular, the long tail effect of traditional holidays is gradually emerging. So, what’s the key to making “peak shifting travel” go further?
Ma Yiliang: To make the off-peak travel market develop better, I think there are two aspects.
The first one is to make paid leave more popular, especially now that many places are starting to give students spring break and autumn break. If parents can be more flexible in matching holiday policies, it will be easier for them to take their children out to travel together.
The second aspect may be that supply still needs to be moderately ahead of demand and cannot retreat faster than demand. We were delighted to see some places, especially places whose best window for scenery did not coincide with the holidays. For example, in spring we go to Wuyuan to see rapeseed flowers, after the National Day we go to Changbai Mountain to see red leaves, and to Xinjiang or western Inner Mongolia to see Populus euphratica. These places are indeed extending the operating hours of tourist trains and continuing to provide quality services to specific groups of people. This is a very good phenomenon. More and more operators have discovered the business opportunities of this kind of off-peak tourism. The stability of tourism supply and services is being significantly improved. This market is worth looking forward to.
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