With declining flight and hotel prices, off-season travel has become an increasingly popular choice, particularly among middle-aged and elderly travelers who enjoy more flexible schedules and higher disposable incomes.
As autumn has set in, people averting overcrowded destinations during public holidays have rebooted their itineraries. The Nanjing Lukou International Airport in east China's Jiangsu Province is bustling with travelers, many of whom are seniors taking advantage of the off-peak season.
"We're heading to Jiuzhaigou. An eight-day tour package that includes accommodation and meals cost just over 3,400 yuan (about 480 U.S. dollars). It's less crowded now, and the prices are fair and reasonable," two elderly travelers said.
Booking data from online travel agency giant Ctrip showed that elderly people making up about 64 percent of weekday travelers following the National Day holiday.
The number of flight bookings among travelers aged 55 and above has surged, accounting for around 10 percent of total reservations, according to Qunar, one of China's largest travel platforms.
Offline travel agencies are also reporting substantial increases in senior group tours.
"The off-peak travel is now gaining popularity among the elderly. We organize about 8 to 10 group tours a day, with 200 to 300 participants. [Flight prices] now are roughly half of what they are during the National Day holiday. Air and other major travel options are quite cost-effective for elderly travelers," said Xu Wei, operations director at the Jiangsu subsidiary of China International Travel Service.
Data from online travel platforms showed that travelers aged 55 to 65 are leading the surge, who tend to stay out longer, travel farther and spend more. Silver-haired travelers mainly come from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, as well as emerging metropolises like Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Xi'an, collectively accounting for over half of the total.
Unlike previous years, elderly travelers now are opting for more independent trips and customized small group tours instead of budget packages.
Hotel bookings in remote scenic areas of Sichuan, such as Ganzi and Jiuzhaigou have increased significantly, thanks in part to the expansion of high-speed train services.
"According to data of our platform, each elderly passenger took 2.14 flights on average in the first half of this year, recording increases from 2019 and 2023. The proportion of seniors traveling during the summer vacation and National Day holiday also exceeded that of previous years," said Liu Ting, a researcher at Qunar's big data research institute of Qunar.
In addition, with lower hotel prices during the off season, bookings for high-end and luxury hotels among senior tourists have jumped over 60 percent year-on-year. Overall, middle-aged and elderly travelers are seeking greater comfort and enjoyment in their trips.
Off-season travel gains popularity among Chinese elderly people
