Cautious spending as mainland China kicks off Golden Week holidays
發佈日期: 2025-10-03 20:35
TVB News
During the National Day Golden Week and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, millions of mainland travellers are hitting the road.
But the tourism industry says many are tightening their purse strings this year.
Roughly two hours from central Beijing, the rural district of Huairou is home to dozens of boutique guesthouses -- each with their own unique character.
This guesthouse -- spanning more than 1,000 square feet -- boasts a swimming pool and a karaoke room.
One can play billiards and have a barbecue here.
Restaurants and cafes are just nearby.
It used to be in hot demand over the holidays but during this year's National Day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, despite slashing its nightly rate from 5,000 to 6,000 yuan down to 4,000 yuan, the property is still deserted.
Chen Lei, who operates over a hundred mid to high-end guesthouses, says occupancy during this year's Golden Week has plunged to about 50 percent -- the lowest in years -- even after ramping up online publicity and discounts.
She says the first thing customers now ask is "This is my budget -- do you have an offer at this price?"
And one can feel their wallets noticeably tighter with most patrons choosing day trips these days, Chen says.
Chen adds that corporate groups -- once willing to travel for team-building activities -- are also cutting budgets.
Companies used to go abroad or domestic locations for retreats but with budgets shrinking, many now opt for short-haul team-building in the suburbs of Beijing.
A travel agency in Beijing says for those travelling overseas during the eight-day long holiday, the Caucasus region has become the standout long-haul destination this year.
Tour packages are relatively cheap there, offering a taste of European culture.
Azerbaijan's new visa-free policy for Chinese travellers since July has cut costs even further.
The agency says the new visa-free destinations have become a key selling point.
Before the pandemic, people flocked to famous tourist spots but since then, these lesser-known places have really taken off. The travel agency expects overall business volume this year to be similar to previous years.
But instead of raising prices, they are focusing on quality of service to retain customers.
