As the Dragon Boat Festival holiday approaches, the tourism market across the Chinese mainland continues to thrive. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this year's festivities are set to be dominated by short-distance leisure trips, with theme parks and museums emerging as top destinations.
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and will feature a three-day break this year, starting on Saturday.
Data from China's online travel agency Ctrip indicates that domestic bookings for nearby getaways during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday have surged by 20 percent compared to last year, reflecting a growing preference for two- or three-day short-distance trips to nearby locales.
Altay Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has seen a significant rise in tourism interest following the release of \"To the Wonder,\" a TV series adapted from Li Juan's prose collection \"My Altay.\" Altay, one of the pastoral areas in Xinjiang, is home to vast grasslands stretching between the Altay Mountains and the Junggar Basin.
Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of Spring Tour travel agency, said that travelers are increasingly inclined to visit destinations inspired by good meals or popular film and TV series. \"Consequently, we are witnessing the rise of more newly emerging niche destinations,\" Zhou added. The inquiries and bookings related to Altay have surged by over 200 percent compared to last year.
Reference(s):
China cashes in on vibrant Dragon Boat Festival holiday spending
cgtn.com
