Record-Breaking Start: Fosun Tourism's Experience-Driven Cultural Travel Sector Flourishes in the Year of the Horse

Deep News
Feb 24

During the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday period from February 15 to 23, Fosun Tourism Group's diverse vacation offerings demonstrated strong performance across the board. From nearby getaways to long-distance trips, from snowy mountains to tropical islands, and from domestic to international destinations, the company welcomed guests globally, achieving growth in both visitor numbers and room rates, marking a prosperous start to the new year.

In the super resort category, both inbound and outbound travel saw significant growth, with synergy between short and long-haul destinations. Club Med resorts in China, themed "Welcome Back to the Village, Celebrate Freely," offered traditional Lunar New Year experiences such as welcoming the God of Wealth, lion dances, calligraphy, reunion dinners, village evening parties, and festive garden fairs, creating warm and memorable family moments. The five domestic all-inclusive resorts maintained an average occupancy rate of 90% over the six core holiday days, with average daily room rates continuing to rise year-on-year. Notably, the Changbai Mountain and Beidahu resorts saw occupancy rates exceed 95% during the latter five days of the holiday. Benefiting from overseas Chinese returning for family reunions, inbound tourism revenue across the five resorts increased by 250% compared to the previous year. The extended holiday also spurred outbound travel, with revenue from domestic customers visiting European resorts rising by 160%, highlighting the brand's resilient global operations.

In urban and suburban vacation segments, Club Med Joyview and Urban Oasis, comprising six resorts, reported their highest revenue in three years over the nine-day holiday. Average occupancy increased by 5 percentage points compared to the same period last year, reaching 86% for four consecutive days, while average daily room rates rose by 6%, achieving growth in both volume and value. The Chengdu Heilongtan and Taicang resorts were fully booked for four days straight, with resorts in Anji, Qiandao Lake, and Nanjing Xianlin also experiencing multiple sold-out days, indicating sustained demand for suburban getaways. On the fourth day of the new year, the Nanjing Xianlin resort premiered the stage play "The Master and Margarita," directed by Ding Yiteng and starring Liu Chang, known for his role in "Peaceful Years." The performance, presented in collaboration with the resort's G.O. team, drew full houses and received positive feedback both online and offline, showcasing the integration of theater and vacation experiences.

The super destination category saw synergistic multi-scene activation driving destination consumption. Sanya Atlantis delivered outstanding results during its first Spring Festival peak season following the Hainan Free Trade Port's closure, with total revenue exceeding 124 million yuan over nine days, a 20% year-on-year increase. Average occupancy reached 98%, and average daily room rates rose by 17%, marking the best Spring Festival performance to date. The holiday featured immersive magic dinner shows, water dance performances, reintroduced C-show Atlantis experiences, Typhoon Rapids River at the water park, rare marine life exhibitions, dolphin encounters, and robot performances reminiscent of the Spring Festival Gala. These activities blended Chinese New Year traditions with international entertainment, artistic expression, and cutting-edge technology, reflecting the free trade port's openness and international service capabilities.

In the Yangtze River Delta, the Taicang Alps International Resort leveraged the winter sports boom with themed events including New Year's Eve reunion dinners, snow lantern festivals, firework displays, and snowfield games, setting new records across multiple operational metrics. The Alps Snow World saw a 30% increase in both visitor numbers and revenue compared to the previous year, with single-day attendance and revenue repeatedly hitting record highs. The ski school's teaching revenue set new records for two consecutive days, underscoring growing public enthusiasm for winter sports. Club Med Urban Oasis Taicang maintained an average occupancy rate of nearly 90%, with five consecutive days of full occupancy, further unleashing the potential of "snow + vacation" consumption.

In Yunnan, the Lijiang Mediterranean Resort deepened its local cultural offerings by hosting the third Amaze Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival during the holiday. Centered on the Naxi New Year theme, the eight-day event featured ethnic歌舞 performances, intangible heritage shows, and a thousand-person street banquet, attracting over 10,000 visitors and setting a new attendance record. This initiative helped shift the destination from sightseeing stops to experiential vacations. Total resort revenue grew steadily, with Club Med Lijiang and the Lijiang Mediterranean Resort Hotel achieving average occupancy rates of 85% and 88% over nine days, respectively, each experiencing three days of full occupancy. Average daily room rates maintained double-digit growth, enhancing revenue quality on a stable visitor base.

Fosun Tourism Group's CEO stated, "The Year of the Horse holds special significance. The nine-day holiday significantly unleashed travel demand, the first Spring Festival peak after Hainan's port closure brought policy benefits, and Chinese athletes' successes in international winter sports further ignited enthusiasm for snow activities. The simultaneous growth in long-distance travel, winter tourism, and inbound and outbound travel has allowed Chinese consumers to truly experience 'vacationing for the New Year' as a higher-quality and more ritualistic lifestyle. Against this market backdrop, Fosun Tourism's outstanding results not only reflect continuous improvement in product and operational capabilities but also represent a milestone in the company's focus on its core vacation business, global layout, and long-term strategy. Looking ahead, we will continue to deepen our presence in the vacation sector, leverage our global resources, strengthen content innovation and refined operations, and create more vacation scenarios that combine innovative expression and emotional value, driving China's cultural tourism industry toward higher-quality development."

Fosun Tourism Group is a leading global consumer group focused on family leisure vacations. As a core component of Fosun's "Happiness" segment, the group is committed to providing international, high-quality, and diverse vacation experiences for families worldwide. Its portfolio includes Club Med, the global leader in premium all-inclusive vacations operating over 60 resorts worldwide; Club Med Joyview, offering festive camps near cities and scenic areas; Club Med Urban Oasis, a one-stop urban themed vacation brand; Sanya Atlantis, a comprehensive high-end ocean-themed destination; Taicang Alps International Resort, a one-stop winter sports-themed urban vacation destination; and Lijiang Mediterranean Resort, a comprehensive leisure vacation destination at the foot of snow-capped mountains.

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