With the Spring Festival approaching, many people have already started planning how to celebrate the holiday. Reporters learned from travel agencies that, compared to last year, there has been a significant increase in flight and travel product bookings ahead of this year's Spring Festival. More and more people are opting to spend the holiday on vacation. Among these vacationing travelers, Southeast Asia and Hainan are their top destinations. Especially for those choosing Southeast Asian islands, the growth trend is even more pronounced. Southeast Asia has become the hottest destination for overseas travel during the Spring Festival.
Southeast Asia becomes the hottest overseas destination, with some flights in high demand
According to industry insiders, the booking of overseas travel products for the 2015 Spring Festival started earlier than in previous years, and bookings for Southeast Asia have already surpassed those for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, making it the hottest destination for the holiday. Among them, Thailand ranks first among overseas travel destinations.
Pattaya scenery
Following this surge in popularity is a tightening supply of certain flights. Statistics from Ctrip Travel website show that during the Spring Festival, prices for group tours and independent travel are generally expected to rise starting from the second week of February. Some routes may see an increase of about 10%, and some may even double. The most popular Southeast Asian island destinations, such as Phuket and Bali, are expected to be even more in demand. According to queries on the Ctrip Travel website, some flights around the Spring Festival are already showing very limited availability. For example, for the flight from Shanghai to Bangkok on February 16, most flight options are already marked as "only 1 left" or "only 2 left," indicating just how popular these trips are.
Picky about accommodation—families prefer vacation apartments
Reporters learned that, unlike previous choices for overseas travel, there is another notable trend during this year’s Spring Festival holiday—travelers are becoming more selective about their accommodations. They not only want a safe and comfortable stay but also one that is unique. For these travelers, traditional hotels have a hard time resonating with them, especially for families traveling together. Compared to regular hotels, they are looking for accommodations that offer more space, full facilities, a homely atmosphere, and personalized features. Vacation apartments and villas perfectly meet these personalized needs. Families can not only stay together but also do their laundry and cook, enjoying the joy of being together.
Reporters learned from Tujia.com, the largest vacation apartment booking platform in China, that the booking volume of overseas properties during the Spring Festival reflects, to some extent, the popularity of overseas travel to Southeast Asia. Currently, orders for Tujia.com’s overseas listings have seen a significant rise since mid-to-late December 2014. In the past two weeks, bookings for some premium Southeast Asian properties during the Spring Festival have been extremely popular, with some even facing a shortage of available units. Among these, famous tropical islands such as Bali, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Pattaya are the most sought-after by travelers, and their properties are even more in demand.
Currently, there is just over two weeks until the Spring Festival. Friends planning to vacation in Southeast Asia and Hainan should hurry up and book their flights and accommodations.