Chinese Families Embrace Educational Tours and Leisure Vacations This Summer

This summer, the tourism market in China is bustling, as families take advantage of the two-month holiday break for students. Educational tours are gaining significant popularity, with bookings reported to have doubled year-on-year on the travel platform Ly.com. Simultaneously, leisure destinations and amusement parks are also seeing a surge in interest; platforms like Tuniu indicate that popular locations such as Haikou, Xiamen, and Qingdao have enjoyed impressive growth, particularly with Haikou experiencing a remarkable 127 percent increase in tourist numbers compared to last year.

Increased leisure travel bookings are evident on the Qunar platform, where family-focused accommodations with water park access have seen an average rise of 30 percent since the start of the summer holiday. Parents like Wang Youli from Beijing illustrate the struggle between choosing between purely leisure trips and educational tours that offer opportunities to discover top universities. Wang has shifted her perspective, realizing that allowing her daughter to enjoy her summer without the added pressure of acquiring knowledge is perfectly acceptable.

Tuniu's vice-president Qi Chunguang points out that many parents aspire for their children to gain insights and inspiration through educational tours focused on Chinese culture, nature, and sciences. In contrast, those opting for purely leisure vacations prioritize comfort and relaxation. They tend to choose more convenient travel schedules and avoid overnight flights for a more enjoyable experience.

While educational tours to international locations are growing slowly this summer due to concerns over safety in certain regions and difficulties with visas, individual trips still offer families valuable experiences. Zhu Kezhao, a teenager from Chengdu, has enjoyed both an educational trip to Hong Kong and a family vacation in Greece, enhancing both his language skills and family bonds.

Wei Changren, founder of a tourism financial news outlet, notes that the rise in interest for both educational and leisure travel illustrates a shift in parents' attitudes, emphasizing the importance of broadening their children's horizons. He suggests that travel agencies should continue to adapt and diversify their offerings to meet the evolving preferences of families seeking enriching experiences for both children and adults.