Traveling alone opens up a new tourism market

Traveling alone is becoming increasingly popular as a new brand of tourist emerges from China.

In a survey rolled out by the country's largest online travel agency Ctrip, about 15 percent of those booking breaks last year appeared to be single, an increase of 10.4 percent compared to 2015.

Up to 41 percent of those choosing to travel alone were between the ages of 19 and 30, and were mostly unmarried, although Ctrip did not disclose detailed figures.

"Traveling by yourself these days seems to be a way of pursuing a kind of spirituality," said Shi Yuzhuan, chief marketing officer of Ctrip's tourism division. "It is extremely popular among young people nowadays."

Online outlets have enabled more individuals to travel alone. Booking air tickets, hotel rooms and visits to scenic spots can be done with a click or two.

If single consumers need help, they can always call a travel consultant on their smartphone.

"People no longer feel helpless when traveling by themselves," Shi said.

According to the Ctrip survey released earlier this year, singles from major cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen, are more than happy to travel alone.

In terms of destinations, Lijiang and Kunming in Yunnan province, and Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan province are the most popular domestic routes.

Seoul, Hong Kong and Bangkok top the list for overseas trips.

Of those traveling alone, up to 58 percent were women.

Zhao Lei is a marketing manager at a multinational beverage company in Shanghai and takes at least five trips each year.

With disposable income to play with, she mostly travels to overseas destinations.

"I have no plans of saving for marriage," the 36-year-old said. "If getting married will affect my travel plans, I would rather remain single."

When asked about the reasons for traveling alone, most of those interviewed by Ctrip said they enjoyed the freedom of heading off by themselves.

Meeting new friends and even starting a relationship also appealed to them.

Li Kai is a programmer at an internet company in Beijing and prefers traveling alone than going with friends. This gives him the chance to meet more people during his trips.

"My life is already quite mundane," the 27-year-old said. "I look at codes all day and my circle is very small.

"I prefer to travel on my own so that I can make new friends," Li added. "These trips are also more challenging."

Ctrip's survey found that 98 percent of people traveling on their own were satisfied with the experience. This was a far higher rate than those taking off with friends or family.

"That is partly because the travel packages in the market are more suitable to singles than to families or friends," said Liu Deqian, a tourism researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(China Daily 08/30/2017 page15)