In December this year, China's traveler consumption prices continued to hit new lows. Compared to May of this year, they have dropped by 24%, falling another 2% from November. In contrast to the continuous rise in China's CPI, the burden of travel on Chinese residents is decreasing month by month. This month, Sanya tourism prices rose by 6%, indicating that the peak travel season is approaching.
Recently, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Tourism Research Center and Lvmama Travel Network jointly released the "China Traveler Consumption Price Index (TPI)" December 2011 report. The report shows that, using May 2011 as the base period, the national TPI in December was 0.76, down 2% month-on-month from November.
Travel prices are entering a phase of differentiated adjustment. Winter activities in the north and coastal attractions in Sanya are showing clear upward trends. The five cities with the fastest price increases are Harbin (up 8%), Zhengzhou (up 7%), Sanya (up 6%), Qingdao (up 6%), and Shaoshan (up 2%). In contrast, northern coastal cities are getting colder, with Ningbo, Guangzhou, Weihai, and Yantai among the cities seeing the steepest declines. The five cities with the sharpest drops are Ningbo (down 15%), Guangzhou (down 10%), Yantai (down 4%), Zhaoqing (down 4%), and Weihai (down 4%). It is predicted that Sanya’s tourism prices will continue to surge, reaching a peak.
All components of travel consumption prices have seen significant corrections. Accommodation prices dropped 5.6% overall in December compared to November; travel dining prices rose 1.2% in December compared to November; transportation prices, measured by the fifteen major domestic routes, fell 2.2% in December compared to November.
In terms of standard travel expenses, Sanya has become the most expensive city. Excluding airfare, the cost for a standard two-day trip in Sanya is 1,758 yuan. Changchun has also re-entered the high-cost range. The top ten cities with the highest standard travel expenses (from high to low) are: Sanya (1,758 yuan), Beijing (1,730 yuan), Shenzhen (1,689 yuan), Shanghai (1,569 yuan), Chengdu (1,512 yuan), Guilin (1,379 yuan), Guangzhou (1,378 yuan), Hangzhou (1,359 yuan), Dalian (1,258 yuan), and Changchun (1,224 yuan). The ten cities with the lowest standard travel expenses (from low to high) are: Shaoshan (496 yuan), Beihai (519 yuan), Korla (574 yuan), Yueyang (597 yuan), Qufu (604 yuan), Hefei (626 yuan), Dali (647 yuan), Nanning (659 yuan), Dujiangyan (692 yuan), and Changsha (703 yuan).
The full text of the China Traveler Consumption Price Index (TPI) Report (December 2011) is as follows:
I. China Traveler Consumption Price Index (TPI)
1. National TPI
Using May 2011 as the base period, the national TPI in December was 0.76, down 2% month-on-month from November.
Figure 5 Standard travel expenses in cities in December 2011
[Introduction to the China Traveler Consumption Price Index (TPI) Report]
The "China Traveler Consumption Price Index" is an index constructed by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Tourism Research Center, as a professional tourism research institution, through its strategic partner—Lvmama Travel Network, which collects monthly tourism price data from major tourism cities across the country. It uses a professional model to reflect fluctuations in travel consumption prices and is the first comprehensive and authoritatively published professional index in China related to Chinese traveler consumption prices.
The China Traveler Consumption Price Index reflects the trend and extent of changes in the price levels of goods and services purchased by residents for travel consumption. This indicator covers the prices of basic services required for resident travel consumption, specifically including four major categories: entrance tickets, accommodation, dining, and transportation. Travel consumption is a bundled expenditure across industries and regions, involving numerous service items, frequent fluctuations, and complex changes. Tracking these changes requires a solid foundation of scientific and rigorous research. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Tourism Research Center aims to develop a dedicated traveler consumption price index to provide a scientific reference for government policymaking, corporate management, and resident travel planning.