As many people return home for family reunions during the spring festival, others prefer to spend the traditional holiday far away from home. The tourism market is expected to enter a peak period in the next few days, pushing up prices in travel agencies.

 

Getting tired of a cold winter spring festival, many people in Northern China are planning to enjoy the holiday in a warmer environment. This makes Hainan Island, in the south tip of the country, the top destination in the coming week.

A propective tourist said, "I like the weather on the island. And I want to see the blue sea and green forests there."

Potential tourists have driven up market prices. In major travel agencies, prices to Hainan are double those of the rest of the year. And there are not many places left.

Staff member of travel agency said, "Almost all of our guests' tourist destinations are Hainan. But all the flight tickets for the first two days after the lunar new year are booked up."

The tourism peak come the first three days after the Lunar New Year. Tourists are being recommended to avoid the travel peak, and make their journey when ticket prices are back to normal.

Apart from Hainan, people's tour destinations range from near to home to overseas. Southeast Asian countries remain a hot choice.

Meanwhile, "red tourism" is becoming more popular. Guangyuan City in Sichuan Province has many sites which witnessed some key event in the history of the Red Army in the 1930s. Its well-kept buildings and displays attract tourists of many different ages.

A Shanghai tourist said, "I have brought my son from Shanghai to see the exhibition here, which can teach him about the Communist revolution."

Many other regions are also promoting discounts or special products to boost the tourism market. A trip credit card is being issued in Hebei Province, providing a hotel booking service, and discount or free tickets for tourist site.