CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- ‘Reservations’ has become a keyword for consumers ahead of the Spring Festival. All online platforms and merchants have launched a variety of special offers to unleash consumption potential, and many consumers have made arrangements for the upcoming nine-day holiday.

Data from Meituan and Dianping show that the bookings of tourism consumption (including accommodation, scenic spot tickets, transportation, etc.) increased by about seven times compared with last year. Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya, Harbin, Chongqing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Xishuangbanna, and Beihai have become the top ten tourist destinations.

Overall, the number of travelers during the Spring Festival holiday is increasing, the reservation peak is coming earlier than in previous years, and the southward and northward travel shows significant growth. Harbin continues to be a popular tourist destination, with a higher volume of travel bookings than most of the other cities in China. In addition, Sanya is still a popular holiday destination during the Spring Festival, while Xishuangbanna and Beihai provide more choices for northern tourists to have fun this winter.

To provide consumers with inspiration and itinerary ideas, Meituan has launched a great variety of up to 30% off travel offers and vacation packages on winter scenic spots and temple fairs for the Spring Festival 2024. Many scenic spots in Chongqing have also offered a wide range of custom activities for consumers to celebrate the Spring Festival.

A special and traditional sacrificing ceremony for Kitchen God was taking place in Fuling Meixin Wine Town on February 2. In 2021, Meixin Wine Town signed a cooperation agreement ‘Meixin Liuda Chicken Project’ with the entrepreneurial youths of Paotong No.3 Commune, contributing to rural revitalization. As the wood-fired chicken business (the derivative project of the Liuda Chicken project) flourishes, the cooperation project has completed two dividends. Many tourists participated in the sacrificing ceremony for Kitchen God, which is a symbol of good fortune and auspiciousness. The event will be accessible until February 24 (Lantern Festival).

The searches and bookings of ‘New Year's Eve dinner’ have also risen. Meituan’s data show that the number of orders for dining in restaurants during New Year's Eve has increased by more than three times compared to last year. In terms of region, first-tier cities pay significantly more attention to the New Year's Eve dinner than other regions. Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen ranked among the top five in China in terms of the number of reservations on Meituan for dining in restaurants during New Year's Eve.

Many catering merchants have launched discounts on New Year's Eve dinners, reunion meals, and other packages on Meituan and Dazhong, offering more choices for consumers. Besides, Meituan has set up a special area for New Year's Eve dinner reservations, which will promote a series of restaurants and eateries during the Spring Festival holiday to help them increase revenues.

Many consumers go to the hairdresser, beauty salon, and nail salon to get a new look for the new year, which gives a boost to the beauty business. Meituan’s data show that the overall search volume of ‘hairdresser, beauty salon, and nail salon’ has increased by 40% on a seasonal basis; and Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Chongqing saw a higher search volume.

"The pre-holiday booking data demonstrate a strong recovery of Spring Festival consumption," said Li Jiwei, the vice president of Meituan Research Institute. After the train tickets start to be sold, the reservation peak for various services is expected to arrive. Meituan will work with merchants in various industries in China to increase the efficiency of services and launch high-quality and affordable products to boost consumption. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)