China's 'silver-haired' off-peak travel trend

Elderly people in China often choose winter and weekdays, which are considered “off-peak” times, to travel.

Elderly Chinese tourists. (Source: CFP)

In China, while summer holidays, National Day holidays or weekends are peak travel times, especially for young people and office workers, the “silver-haired group” - middle-aged and elderly tourists - choose winter and weekdays, which are considered “off-peak” times, to travel.

Currently, at the consulting offices of travel companies in Chaoyang District, Beijing, the number of tourists coming to learn about and consult about tours is very large, most of whom are “the silver-haired group”. Meanwhile, at the Nanshan Zhuhai tourist area, Jiangsu Province, many elderly tourists come to visit, check in, take photos and experience the local culture.

According to Zhu Jianquan, a representative of a travel agency in Jiangsu Province, most seniors will choose to travel during “off-peak” times. He said that on non-weekend days, the proportion of seniors accounts for over 50%.

Statistics show that in the first week after the National Day holiday, the number of orders for winter travel products for middle-aged people and people aged 50 and over this year increased by 286% compared to before the National Day holiday. Regarding foreign travel, Spain, Portugal, etc. have become popular destinations for the “silver-haired group”.

With the promotion of smart tourism and the increasing number of elderly tourists, some scenic spots and consumption sites are actively transforming services suitable for the elderly, such as emergency rescue services, wheelchair rentals, and 24-hour battery-powered car shuttles for tourists aged 70 and over.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/trao-luu-du-lich-thoi-ky-thap-diem-cua-nhom-toc-bac-o-trung-quoc-293136.html