This year, customized travel offers more diverse formats and types compared to previous years. According to relevant statistics, during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, many travel agencies sold out their private tour products; the sales volume during the subsequent National Day Golden Week also saw a significant increase. A travel agency in Beijing expects that this year’s custom travel orders will increase by 30% compared to last year.
Customized travel originally originated abroad and was later introduced to China, where it is currently in a development phase. Unlike traditional group tours, customized travel is planned around the traveler as the main decision-maker. It tailors the itinerary based on individual preferences and needs, minimizing or eliminating intermediaries to provide travelers with a more free, comfortable, and enjoyable experience. The current standard tourism market has fallen into a vicious cycle of low-price competition, making differentiated competition an inevitable trend at this stage. When conventional group tours no longer satisfy travelers, the depth of customized travel routes and the diversity of services are more readily accepted.
Customized travel has developed rapidly in China over the past two years and is now gradually entering the era of customized travel. A person in charge of customized travel at Xinxin Travel Network stated: “Nowadays, travelers are targeting more precise destinations and demanding distinctive and personalized itineraries. Traditional travel routes can hardly meet the new market demands.”
Xinxin Travel’s Custom Channel creates exclusive itineraries for travelers
According to reports, Xinxin Travel Network launched its Custom Travel Channel in April this year. On the channel, travelers can post their travel requirements based on their budget, destination, duration, number of people, and other needs. Xinxin consultants will then tailor travel plans specifically to the clients’ preferences until they are satisfied. From there, they can begin enjoying their own unique and joyful journey. Since the launch of Xinxin Travel’s customization service four months ago, it has received many distinctive orders. Ms. Wu, who just completed her trip, said she had always wanted to take her family on a unique island vacation but was dissatisfied with many of the travel routes she found online. After posting her requirements on the custom travel channel, she quickly received a specially designed itinerary from a travel consultant. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, thanks to the travel agency’s thoughtful arrangements, she and her family experienced an unforgettable island trip in Hainan.
Customized travel avoids issues associated with traditional travel such as unenjoyable group tours, helplessness when traveling independently, exhaustion from reading travel guides, the hardships of DIY travel, and feeling lost on the road. This traveler-led approach not only allows tourists to enjoy more fun during their trips but also helps promote and advance the travel industry itself, pushing it from traditional group tours toward more personalized service models.