Bookings not cooling off at hot springs, luxury resorts

Winter is no longer a slack travel season in China, thanks to the popularity and increasing availability of ice and snow activities, high-end hot springs and things to do indoors.

Young Chinese travelers, in particular, have been increasingly drawn to hot springs at nearby high-end resorts during winter, especially since COVID-19 has made it more difficult for many to make long trips due to strict pandemic prevention and control measures.

Many such resorts offer a variety of entertainment options, such as bookshops, teahouses, cafes, movie theaters and camping sites, making them attractive for short getaways on weekends.

In the first half of November, even with prices edging up, bookings at hotels with hot springs exceeded those during the same period of 2019, before the pandemic hit, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.

Hot springs hotels in Sichuan and Guangdong provinces have seen the greatest number of bookings this winter. Lots of bookings also have been reported at hot springs resorts in Chongqing, Nanjing in Jiangsu province and Fuzhou, Fujian province, Qunar found.

Tuniu Corp, an online travel agency based in Nanjing, said many people prefer short trips in the cities where they live. The company has worked with a group of well-known resorts, hotels with hot springs and high-end bed-and-breakfasts to develop one-day or two-day travel packages.

"Some high-end resorts in China have become increasingly popular. Such hotels usually offer options such as skiing, mountain sports, spas and hot springs. The hotels are equipped with comprehensive facilities and services, making trips more relaxed and enjoyable," said Zha Tingting, director of nearby area travel at Tuniu.

"Young people's desire to travel can be quickly satisfied through taking a short vacation at a high-end hotel and enjoying entertainment in areas close to where they live. Such hotels are expected to see peak bookings around the upcoming New Year's holiday," Zha said.

Some ski resorts also offer a variety of snow activities, water parks and hot springs. This winter, a few ski resorts in Northeast China have worked with nearby hot springs to bring in a high number of bookings through packages that include hotel rooms, hot springs and ski slope admission tickets, Tuniu said.

Night tourism activities also have increased the popularity of winter travel. With chilly weather in the northern part of China, indoor activities such as going for dinner, watching performances and shopping have attracted many tourists, according to Mafengwo, a travel service and social networking platform.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently released the first list of national night cultural and tourism facilities, with 120 selected nationwide. They include sightseeing spots, shopping streets, theme parks, cultural and creative parks, ancient towns and commercial areas.

"Offering tours and shows at cultural and artistic venues as well as light shows and holiday decorations at night have helped make up for the shortage of winter tourism options. Those operations' activities are less limited by the weather," said Zhao Yijing, a researcher at China Tourism Academy.

Given that the pandemic has curbed travel, many Chinese consumers have stayed home and saved more. When they actually have the chance to travel, more people tend to splurge on luxury, high-end trips to satisfy pent-up demand, according to Trip.com Group, China's largest online travel agency.

In the first half, the average daily number of online searches focused on customized luxury trips surged 140 percent over the same period of 2019, Trip.com said.