The number of domestic trips in the first six months of this year surpassed 2.4 billion, up 10 percent over the same period last year, China's biggest online travel agency, Ctrip, reports.
Separately, roughly 62 million Chinese went outside the mainland in the same period, a 5 percent increase.
The agency's report is based on Ctrip's 300 million members.
Last year, the domestic travel market saw about 4.4 billion trips, which generated 3.9 trillion yuan (USD 590 billion) in tourism income, according to the National Tourism Administration.
High-speed rail, flights, and road-trip routes have given incentives to young travelers born in the 1980s and '90s, who favor leisure and in-depth travel experiences, the report says.
Bookings for domestic travel were mostly made using travel websites and mobile phone application. They covered more than 700 destinations in 100 cities.
Domestic-flight occupancy reached 84.9 percent between January and June.
"The increasing travel and desire for leisure have made flights a necessity," says Shi Yuduan, a senior official with Ctrip.
Increasing incomes and paid vacations will continue to fuel domestic travelers' enthusiasm, says Shi.
Read Original Article
