CRI听力: Hainan's Sanya, The Hottest Ever Destination During Festival

As China's unique tropical island, Hainan is a popular tourist spot every Spring Festival. This year it has become even hotter, thanks to its International Tourist Island concept. Hotel suite prices are skyrocketing at an unbelievable speed.

Let's find out more with CRI reporter Liu Min.

Reporter:

This Spring Festival's hotel suite price in Sanya has increased by three to seven times the average seasonal rate, with many rooms exceeding ten thousand yuan per night.

Here are some sales calls from two different hotels located in Sanya.

"The price on the first day of the lunar New Year is 9000 yuan per night, and 15 percent of the service fee is required."

"The double bed in the royal suites with seashore view is priced at 8717 Yuan per night including breakfast. The prices on the following days are more expensive, exceeding 11 thousand yuan per night."

According to the data released by Ctrip.com, China's largest online travel website, the four and five star hotel suites' during the Lunar New Year's week vary from 15 to 18 thousand yuan per night, but the days before new year's eve is only one to three thousand yuan per night. However, such extreme prices didn't drive customers away. As early as one month ago, these high price rooms were completely booked. Some industrial insiders say this year the island not only attracts those simply coming to have a warmer Spring Festival, but also many curious tourists lured by the title of "International Tourist Island", as well as some real estate investors smelling business opportunities.

Professor Li Geng from China Tourism College says such an increase is not so surprising since every year the hotel prices in Sanya increase 10 percent.

"This kind of trend is similar to the past few years. 10 percent increase on the suite prices is the market trend in both domestic and overseas hotels when the economy is developing in a healthy way. Many people travel back home before the Lunar New Year, so the price before New Year's Eve is usually quite low, but right after that, the hotel price jumps, attracting families coming to take vacations during the rest of the week."

Even though quite a number of people will spend more than 10 thousand yuan on a luxury suite per night, such a high price is not the option for most travelers. Manager Fan Runjun from ctrip.com says their data shows there are other more economical choices.

"Besides the 20 percent jump on Sanya's hotel suite prices, other tourist destination's hotel prices stay similar to past years. Places like Guilin and Qingdao have even seen lower prices this time."

Comparing to the data from last year, the outbound tours have become more popular. People traveling to Hongkong and Southeast Asia have increased, yet with tour package prices staying the same. Destinations like Europe and North America have seen a slight drop in group travel prices. Manager Fan Rujun,(www.hXen.com)

"Due to the slow recovering economy overseas, local hotel prices basically stay the same, offering quite good deals for Chinese travelers during this period of time."
Industrial insiders also remind that prices of hotels and transportation usually fall after this peak time. The Post-Festival period could be a good choice for those who want to plan a trip more economically.

For China Drive, I'm Liu Min.
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Talking Points:
Besides Sanya, Xiamen ranks as the second hottest place. The following places are Guilin, Jiu Zhaigou, Lijiang and Harbin. Hotel prices in Guilin have seen a slight drop.