Lower Prices for Tourism Off-season

Tourist attractions, hotels and travel agencies are offering lower prices to attract visitors during the off-season following the Mid-Autumn and National Day Golden Week holiday period.

The recent Golden Week holiday brought a significant increase in the number of visitors to China's main tourist cities. Shanghai, for instance, hosted more than 8 million visitors during the seven-day holiday period.

To entice visitors during the current tourist off-season, the administration office of Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province will charge an entry fee of 150 yuan per person, a discount of 80 yuan off the regular price. A ticket for a one-way cable car ride has been lowered to 15 yuan. Tourists also will receive a hotel discount if they enter the scenic spot after arriving at Huangshan Airport.

The administration office of the Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province also will lower its entry fee to 100 yuan—a discount of 20 yuan—from November 1 to February 28.

Costs for accommodations in many tourist cities have dropped by up to 40 percent following the Golden Week holiday. The price of rooms in five-star hotels in Guilin, for example, has fallen 10 percent, while lower star-rated hotels have reduced their room prices by 40 percent. Hotels in Hangzhou, Xiamen and Qingdao also have lowered hotel room rates.

Travel agencies have also discounted prices for tour packages during the off-season. West Holiday, a travel agency based in Guangzhou, has reduced prices for outbound package tours by 900 yuan to 1,900 yuan. A five-day trip to Bali now costs 2,199 yuan or 59 percent less than before.

In addition, some airlines have been lowering fares on selected routes for the winter travel season. China Southern Airlines will promote a new route from Changchun to Changbaishan Mountain, a famous winter resort. Hefei Airport and Tianjin Airport will increase the number of flights to Sanya in Hainan Province, which attracts plenty of visitors during wintertime.