Older visitors venture farther afield

Older Chinese luxury travelers with leisure time on their hands are willing and eager to explore some less-visited parts of the world.

Their passion for South America has risen this year, as a result of the Rio Olympics. The number of bookings made through tour organizer HH Travel has shot up by 50 percent.

South America has become a popular vacation destination for the wealthy from Europe and North America. World-class luxury hotels are not difficult to find in the region. More important, for some experienced travelers who have been to more than 20 countries and regions, South America is increasingly attractive for its adventure.

And speaking of adventure, some of the more vigorous travelers have left their footprints on African soil.

According to HH Travel, Chinese luxury travelers are increasingly showing greater interest in the wilder areas of the African continent. Watching the wildebeest migration and staying in hotels surrounded by wild animals such as giraffes and elephants, or with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro, creates the memory of a lifetime for many tourists.

Liu Yue, 56, says she spends nearly two-thirds of the year on the road. When she and her husband retired, they handed over their family business in Shanghai to their 31-year-old son. They now have time to travel to places they have longed to go.

"When we don't have any special plans, we will travel around China so my husband can test his skills at different golf courses. But this year we made two long trips to South America and Africa, where I think everyone who has the time must go," Liu says.

"The natural scenery there more than makes up for the trouble of applying for visas and getting vaccinations. I could hardly hold back my tears when I saw the Milky Way galaxy at night while traveling in the Amazon River area. When I saw a flock of more than 1 million flamingos, I was totally speechless. Nature is so full of surprises."

She added: "As the old Chinese saying goes, 'He who travels far knows much". For us, we are long past the age when people have the yearning for luxury products. Life experiences are what we cherish now."

(China Daily Africa Weekly 12/30/2016 page30)