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Bespoke, unusual and luxury trips become flavor of the day
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Entrance of the Ice Hotel Bukovel, Ukraine (Shutterstock/Anton_Ivanov)
C
hinese travelers are becoming increasingly enamored of making tailor-made trips, instead of embarking on holiday journeys in groups or going on self-help tours, and a large number of them would now like to take personalized trips at a slower and gentler pace.
Ctrip, China's biggest online travel agency, said that on its platform specializing in tailored trips, "slow pace" was the key phrase that was used the most, and more than 80 percent of the orders Ctrip received on it emphasized that quality.
The demand for bespoke trips is wide-ranging, and more unusual examples have included witnessing fireworks while bathing in hot springs, visiting movie locations, and holding a private wedding on the small Greek island of Santorini.
Most travelers said they would like trips with less sightseeing packed into each day and to avoid scenic spots with too many people. In addition, they didn't want to get up early and sleep late, Ctrip said.
A Ctrip report found that last year, personal tailored trips became increasingly and widely popular, and the travel agency said they were no longer just the choice of the rich. The majority of those who booked the tailored trips comprised foodies, travelers with sophisticated tastes in hotels, as well as families, the report found.
"Foodies love to go to Michelin restaurants and those trendy dining places that are popular online. Japan, Thailand and Singapore are the favorite countries among food lovers," said Peng Liang, public relations director of Ctrip's vacation department.
"Sanya, Japan, Bali, the island of Saipan, and the Maldives are among the best destinations for those who have special requirements for hotels," he said.
"For example, they would like to stay in rooms in the middle of the ocean, or on the sand or among the trees, go camping, or stay at hotels in castles or in English houses with real fireplaces."
With more suppliers entering the market and competing with each other, the prices of tailored trips are going down noticeably. Last year, the average spending on domestic tailored tours was 3,200 yuan, down a hefty 20 percent on the previous year, while the average spending on a trip abroad was 7,800 yuan, dipping 8.2 percent year-on-year, Ctrip found.
Read also: The future of travel: Worldliness, elegance and luxury
In 2017, Ctrip's tailored holidays platform received more than 1 million orders, and its sales surged more than 200 percent year-on-year. Most of those making bookings came from major cities, but the growth rate of those from second and third-tier cities topped that of the major cities.
During the Spring Festival break in February, Ctrip received more than 70,000 orders, and their traveling destinations covered over 100 countries. The longest trip was a 23-day tour of South America, and the order with the largest number of travelers was a tour to Sanya, Hainan province with a group of 100 people, it found.
Ctrip added that last year, those born in the 1990s accounted for 30.82 percent of people making bespoke bookings, followed by those born in the 1980s, who made up for 30.65 percent of the total.
