"Pie holiday strategy" heats up the long May Day holiday period. Tongcheng Travel: High-speed rail and plane ticket bookings are in high demand.

With the countdown to the "May Day" holiday underway, "combining holidays to travel" has become a hot topic on social platforms. Many citizens are using "10-day version" or "11-day version" extended holiday strategies, flexibly combining statutory holidays and annual leave to activate the demand for long-distance inter-provincial travel. Data from Tongcheng Travel shows that as of April 29th, "holiday combining strategies" have ignited a wave of "May Day" tourism, with a significant increase in domestic and international tourism demand, and a noticeable trend towards popular and diversified travel consumption, with a sharp increase in long-haul flight bookings compared to last year. According to research from Tongcheng Research Institute, the reduced travel costs during the "May Day" period have activated the demand for mass tourism, with the average one-way airfare decreasing by about 11% year-on-year. The top 10 popular destinations for the "May Day" period have been announced: Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Kunming remain at the forefront, while the popularity of special destinations such as Sanya and Urumqi has significantly increased compared to last year's "May Day" holiday. Sanya's popularity has increased by 300% due to its duty-free policy and tropical charm, while Zhengzhou and Nanjing have entered the top three in terms of growth in popularity among new first-tier cities. In terms of flight bookings, Sanya, Urumqi, Hohhot, Yinchuan, and Guilin are the most popular flight destinations among third-tier cities. In addition, there has been an increase in both inbound and outbound travel, with active mobility among the elderly. Data from Tongcheng Travel shows that during this year's "May Day" period, the proportion of travelers from China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign countries has increased by 7 percentage points year-on-year. Seoul, Bangkok, and Tokyo are leading the outbound destinations, while the search volume for holiday destinations such as Jeju Island and Singapore has doubled. Among inbound travelers, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan have the highest proportion, with the age group of 41 and above accounting for 33%, significantly higher than other age groups, with a blend of family visits, leisure, and business requirements.