The Ministry of Culture and Tourism approved interprovincial group tours in seven regions in mid-July. They are Shanghai, Sichuan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Shandong, Qinghai and Hunan provinces.
The announcement of interregionaltourism resumption prompted travelers to act. Searches for Chengdu and Qingdao increased by 310 percent and 230 percent, respectively, according to Qunar.
Daily sales exceeded 10 million yuan at Trip.com, according to the travel agency.
Travelers quickly snapped up all the fly-at-will flight tickets offered by domestic carriers, including China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines.
China Eastern has received a positive market response.
Travelers who bought its "unlimited weekend flights" package for 3,322 yuan ($474) redeemed more than 65,000 tickets from June 27 to 28, and nearly 90,000 trips were made using the promotion from July 4 to 5.
Tourists increasingly favor open spaces with relatively small crowds since the epidemic, says Gu Huimin, head of the School of Tourism Sciences at Beijing International Studies University.
For now, group tourism for three to five people is most sought after, with bookings doubling at Trip.com.
Tourists who have opted for private tours have also grown significantly, the agency says.
Gu predicts family travel will play a big part in domestic tourism's future development.
Culture and tourism authorities at various levels will roll out rural-tourism routes that feature family, health and leisure travel, according to a Ministry of Culture and Tourism guideline released in mid-July.
Hubei province has given local travel agencies the go-ahead for group tours since July 17, with hygiene and safety requirements in place.
Shaanxi province's capital, Xi'an, will offer free access to some of its top-rated scenic spots and over 80 percent of local museums.
Xi'an will also roll out study tours featuring history, the Silk Road and folk customs for summer and autumn travelers, the local government says.
Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn
