THE Chinese are already making holiday travel plans for next year after the release of 2021 public holiday calendar on Wednesday.

The holiday dates have sparked a boom in domestic tourism bookings, travel operators said.

Bookings for private group tours during the Lunar New Year holiday soared 160 percent from Wednesday night compared to a normal day, according to Shanghai-based online travel operator Trip.com.

Private tour groups are gaining in popularity after the coronavirus pandemic as they feature limited numbers of tourists, usually family members or friends.

The Spring Festival holiday will be between February 11 and 17.

Most of those booking private group tours for the break are families with children or senior members, said Trip.com.

Searches for independent tourist itineraries related to the three-day New Year’s Day holiday from January 1 to 3 soared 120 percent, Trip.com said.

Shanghai, Beijing,Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhouand Chengdu have the largest number of holiday tourbookings.

Travel review websiteMafengwosaid hot spring, ice and snow tourism in Harbin, Lijiang, Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin were the most favored winter options with recreational vehicles and customized design trips gaining in popularity.

Beach and holiday resorts in Sanya, Xishuangbanna, Xi’an and Guangzhou are also popular among travelers.

Another online travel operatorTongcheng-Elongsaid searches for tickets for travel, tourist attractions and other related products had surged 300 percent from normal by yesterday afternoon. The May Day holiday will be for five days for the second consecutive year.

“It will help boost tourism and small-group tours and customized tours will be the trend in 2021,” saidChengChaogong, a researcher with the travel operator.

Personalized and diversified tourism demand is the trend, it added.

“I visitedShengsiIsland in neighboringZhejiangProvince with my family during the National Day holiday and did not travel for the whole year because of the pandemic. I am planning a tour toSanyaduring the Spring Festival holiday,” said Shanghai resident WuXiao.

“Because of limited travel options, domestic tourism is proving popular as seen during this year’s National Day holiday,” saidZhengCuifen, another Shanghai resident.

“Early planning is important during travel peak, and I am checking the prices for a trip toBeihaiduring the Spring Festival holiday,”Zhengsaid.

“Many domestic tourists canceled their travel already booked during this year’s Chinese New Year holiday because of the pandemic, and Spring Festival is traditionally the travel peak for Chinese families,” said PengLiang, a tourism researcher. “The announcement of the calendar is expected to spur tourism potential,” he said.