2018's National Day Holiday was a golden week for tourism. Millions in China took to the skies, railways, and roads to see family and to travel, giving the domestic tourism market a special, personal touch.
"We see an increase in the quality of consumer demand. People are no longer satisfied with just looking around. They want a more in-depth experience," said Bai Ming, deputy director of Ministry of Commerce's International Market Research Institute.
According to the latest stats released by the Ministry of Commerce, new consumption patterns are fast becoming the norm. Customized travel experiences and shared homestays allow virtually anywhere to be a destination. And mobile payments are undoubtedly the way to go.
Bookings on short-term rental platforms and shared homes were up five times over 2017. /VCG photo
During the Golden Week, bookings on short-term rental platforms and shared homes were up five times over last year, with customized travel sales increasing more than 50 percent. And with a few simple taps on one's smartphone, consumers can quickly satisfy their needs for food, travel, and entertainment.
"Through the Golden Week, the scattered holidays are combined into a long vacation. Consumption time is extended. At the same time, people have the chance to travel far away. And with 1.4 billion people, consumption space is expanding," said Bai.
China's Ministry of Commerce reports that 502 million passenger trips were taken domestically from Oct. 1 to 4. That's an 8.8 percent increase from last year. Domestic tourism revenue rose to 60.4 billion US dollars, an 8.1 percent jump.