Wang Qiyan, Director of Leisure Economics Research Center, Renmin University of China
Produced | Sohu Think Tank
Edit｜ Liu Shijiao
Recently, according to data from a number of online travel platforms, bookings of travel products for Tomb-sweeping Festival and the May 1st holiday are hot, with the number of air tickets booked surpassing the same period in 2019, and air ticket prices have also rebounded, and the fares of some popular routes have increased by more than two According to statistics, Shanghai-Sanya, Beijing-Sanya, and Shanghai-Chongqing fares have increased by 46%, 112%, and 16% respectively year-on-year.
Will there be a compensatory rebound in tourism demand during Qingming and May Day holidays? How has the tourism market recovered this year? Sohu think tank connected with Wang Qiyan, director of the Leisure Economics Research Center of Renmin University of China.
Wang Qiyan said that this year’s Spring Festival, the implementation of the in-situ Chinese New Year policy for safety considerations, does have a backlog of tourism demand, which will be released during the Qingming Festival and the May 1st holiday. But he also emphasized that the Spring Festival in China is a time for family reunion, and the proportion of tourism demand is not very high compared to visiting relatives. Therefore, we need to look at the release and rebound of tourism demand objectively.
Wang Qiyan pointed out that with the rise of local tourism and nearby tourism economies, if the tourism industry wants to seize the opportunity, it needs to focus on three aspects. First of all, providing adequate services is the most fundamental thing for the industry. Second, innovation will always be the theme, and it must be a two-wheel drive of culture and technology. Third, the government should do a good job of supervision, including issues such as not defrauding consumers, which require more attention from the government.
Will outbound tourism resume in the second half of the year? Wang Qiyan said that it is still very difficult to predict. From the perspective of foreign epidemic prevention and control, there is a positive side. For example, some places are also learning China’s vaccination. But there are also negative factors. Some areas still go their own way, don’t wear masks and gather casually. Therefore, we should be cautious about the recovery of situational tourism.
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