With the summer holiday travel rush for families subsiding and the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays yet to begin, the domestic tourism market is entering a comfortable off-peak travel period. Airfares and hotel prices are at their lowest levels this off-season, making affordable travel a major motivation for many tourists to choose off-peak travel.

Senior citizens and young white-collar workers become the main force of off-peak travel.

Overall, the off-peak travel market in September this year was characterized by "silver-haired dominance, increased popularity of domestic autumn foliage viewing, and an earlier peak in National Day travel." Data from Tuniu.com shows that since September, travel demand from families with children and young adults has decreased significantly, while the travel intentions of those over 50 years old have increased markedly, making them the main force in the September off-peak travel market. The peak travel period for the National Day holiday is expected to last from September 24th to October 6th; therefore, the off-peak travel window in September this year is significantly shorter than last year.

Data from Tongcheng Travel also shows that, unlike the summer holidays when families and students dominate the travel market, the proportion of senior citizens aged 55 and above and young white-collar workers who take 3 to 4 days off from their annual leave is particularly prominent among those traveling during the off-peak season in September. Senior citizens prefer a slow-paced health and wellness lifestyle and early autumn scenery appreciation, while young white-collar workers are more enthusiastic about short getaways to nearby areas or off-peak autumn hiking trips, willing to pay for "a local meal, a stroll through an old street, and a night tour".

Meituan's data also confirms this trend: among those choosing "off-season travel," those aged 20 to 30 account for nearly 50%, with popular destinations including Beijing, Chengdu, Harbin, Shanghai, and Nanjing. Taking Harbin as an example, September's tourism bookings increased by 19% year-on-year.

September becomes a low-cost-performance month for off-peak travel.

Price elasticity is the most compelling driver behind this wave of off-peak travel, opening up a new window for autumn consumption where the "off-season isn't so slow." According to Tongcheng Travel's discounted airfare rankings, overall, airfares for off-peak travel in September are 30-40% cheaper than during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, and more than half the price of the peak on September 30th.

Beyond airfares, mid- to high-end hotels are also offering "value-for-money windows" for off-peak travelers in September. Data from Tongcheng Travel shows that average hotel prices before the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday have dropped by 30-40% compared to August, with some resort hotels seeing reductions of over 50%. For example, a five-star hotel in a popular second-tier city had an off-peak price of around 700 yuan in September, which rose to 1000-1470 yuan during the National Day holiday.

Autumn scenery viewing routes are on the agenda.

Regarding autumn foliage viewing, new autumn colors are gradually appearing in the Northwest, Northeast, and Southwest, offering tourists a diverse range of travel options. Destinations such as Shangrao, Beijing, Anshun, Altay, Huangshan, Jiujiang, Xining, Chifeng, Daxinganling, and Hulunbuir are popular choices for Tuniu users looking to enjoy autumn scenery during off-peak seasons. Related routes to Jiuzhaigou and Daocheng Yading in Sichuan, Guilin in Guangxi, Zhangjiajie in Hunan, Huangguoshu Waterfall and Xiaoqikong Scenic Area in Guizhou, and Enshi Grand Canyon and Shennongjia in Hubei are popular choices for Tongcheng users. Jiuzhaigou, Daocheng Yading, Kanas, and Enshi will be among the first to enter their autumn foliage viewing season.

On one hand, there are the favorable prices for airfares and hotels; on the other hand, autumn colors are gradually unfolding across various regions. September's off-peak travel offers both affordability and unique experiences. Before the massive influx of tourists during the National Day holiday, leisurely travel and short trips are giving the autumn tourism market a diverse and vibrant character. (Source: CNR.cn)