The Chinese government announced plans to ease COVID-19 control measures. Moves were taken to boost the resumption of cross-provincial group travel tours and the industry is starting to pick up. CGTN's Bi Ran has more.

As China implements more relaxed coronavirus restrictions, inquiries for travel products and services have surged, since people are keen to go outside.

Tickets for trips between cities tripled on major online ticket booking platforms. Flights and hotel rooms are also in growing demand. Data from the Chinese travel service platform Fliggy shows that the number of air ticket bookings for New Year's Day increased by more than three times in the past seven days.

HAN JIE Vice President, China's CYTS Tours Holding Co "We've received many inquires for travel and outings. The actual ticket booking is in a slow increase at this point. But I'm optimistic about the upcoming holidays. More people like to choose tailor-made trips compared with three years ago, which is more private and safe."

Mr. Han said tourists are prudent when make travel plans, as they spend more time to select destinations to avoid infection risks while making full of the trip.

BI RAN Beijing "Sanya city in Hainan, Xiamen in Fujian, Lijiang in Yunnan and Beihai in Guangxi are among the most popular travel destinations. Other major Chinese cities have seen a surge in inbound and outbound ticket bookings in the past few days."

HAN JIE Vice President, China's CYTS Tours Holding Co "We've started to prepare for the reopening even before the easing of restrictions. We've set multiple campaign plans and designed various travel products with partners both at home and abroad. I believe the peak will soon come."

Experts expect that there will be a peak travel during the Spring Festival. And the full resumption of tourism could be expected by the National Day holiday in October next year.