A little more than 30 million Chinese went online to book hotel rooms, air tickets and tour packages last year, an increase of 13 million compared to the figure in 2008, according to a China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) report.
The sector’s year-on-year growth of 77.9% has exceeded growth in online stock trading (67%), online banking (62%) and online shopping (46%). The only sector it lagged behind was online payments, which witnessed an 81% year-on-year growth in 2009.
China Trade Information reported that Tang Yibo, director of the holiday department of Ctrip.com, a major travel website, said, “Going online to arrange everything for a trip is becoming a trend among the Chinese now.”