Coasting on 2022 Games to year-round biz

Children train in ice hockey at a park in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on Feb 16. China is seeing rapid consumption growth in the ice and snow sports industry. [Photo/China News Service]

"For the skiing season this year, we have designed multiple kinds of hotels and skiing packages. Those packages are designed to target different kinds of travelers, such as those who come from nearby regions or from somewhere farther, as well as people who travel with their families or friends," Wang said.

Wang also said with an increasing number of people who bring their kids to go skiing, the resort has designed various kid-friendly activities such as handicraft classes and some fun events involving snow.

Ren Changyu, online sales director of Park Hyatt Changbaishan and Hyatt Regency Changbaishan in Jilin province, said in the week after the Spring Festival, the occupancy rates of the two hotels saw a significant increase over the same period of last year. With a growing number of fans for ice and snow activities, the rebooking rates of the hotels also went up.

Beijing, Harbin in Heilongjiang province and Baishan in Jilin province topped the list of most popular destinations for ice and snow tours after the Spring Festival break. Besides, cities located in the southern part of China have gained in popularity with their indoor skiing facilities. In this context, Guangzhou in Guangdong province, Chengdu in Sichuan province, Chongqing municipality, and Huzhou in Zhejiang province lead, Fliggy found.

"The ice and snow tourism craze generated by the Winter Olympics is an opportunity for business retailers to grab more passengers and build better brand reputations," said Zhang Rong, vice-president of Fliggy.

Meanwhile, the number of small towns that feature ice and snow tourism is expected to increase in China. Such distinctive small towns usually integrate different types of operations like ice and snow sports, resorts and entertainment. The development of small towns that feature ice and snow sports is bound to promote China's ice and snow tourism industry and further drive consumption of ice and snow activities.

"With Chinese consumers' growing disposable income, the consumption upgrade trend has continued. Travelers, especially young consumers like Generation Z－people born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s－have put more emphasis on their experiences during travel and are willing to try new things and challenge themselves. Ice and snow tours fit with such a mindset," Zhang of LeadLeo said.