Title: [The Transformation of Travel in the Changing Times: From a Group Photo of Landmarks to a Cultural Journey of In-depth Experience.]

Travel used to be an untouchable dream in the hearts of many people. Back then, for most Chinese, being able to travel was simply a luxury, a privilege that only a few people could enjoy. But with the passage of time, travel has slowly made its way into our daily lives. In the past, it might take months or even years to save up for a trip once, but now it's very convenient to go.

I remember that in the 80s of the 20th century, China's tourism industry was still in its infancy. At that time, most people lived in a very small circle, and rarely had the opportunity to travel far away except for relatives or business trips. At that time, the average number of trips a year was less than 0.2, and it was difficult to even cross provinces. Travel, for most families, is still a distant dream.

In 1984, the Chinese government issued guidelines for the development of tourism, which marked the official start of China's tourism industry. The implementation of this policy not only injected new vitality into the tourism industry, but also promoted the rapid development of transportation, accommodation and other infrastructure, laying a solid foundation for the later tourism boom.

By the 90s, with the rapid growth of the economy, people's wallets were also bulging, and travel began to change from a "luxury" to a "consumer optional". In 1999, the country set up the "Golden Week" holiday, which undoubtedly brought a huge impetus to the tourism market. That year, the total length of domestic highways just exceeded 10,000 kilometers, and by the end of 2022, this number had reached 5.35 million kilometers, becoming the world's first.

Against this backdrop, the form of tourism is also changing. People are no longer satisfied with simply "getting in the car to sleep and getting off to take pictures", but are beginning to pursue a more personalized and meaningful travel experience. This change in demand has promoted the diversification of the tourism market, and new forms of tourism such as self-driving tours, backpacking trips, and cultural exploration tours have emerged.

Now, walk-and-go travel has become a reality. According to the forecast of the China Tourism Academy, the number of domestic tourists is expected to exceed 6 billion in 2024, and tourism revenue is expected to exceed 6 trillion yuan. Behind this figure, tourism has become one of the important ways to improve our quality of life. At the same time, the way of tourism is fundamentally changing. Traditional group tours are gradually being replaced by personalized tours, and tourists are more willing to plan their itinerary according to their interests and pace.

Travel, it was once a dream in the hearts of many people, out of reach. But nowadays, it has been integrated into our daily lives and has become accessible. Once upon a time, tourism was the privilege of a few, but over time, it has become less unattainable.

Remember that in the 80s of the 20th century, China's tourism industry was just getting started. At that time, most people lived in a very small circle, and rarely had the opportunity to travel far away except for relatives or business trips. Travel, for most families, is still a distant dream. But in 1984, when the Chinese government issued guidelines for the development of tourism, this situation began to change. The implementation of the policy has injected new vitality into the tourism industry, promoted the rapid development of transportation, accommodation and other infrastructure, and laid a solid foundation for the subsequent tourism boom.

In the 90s, with the rapid growth of the economy, people's wallets also bulged, and tourism began to change from a "luxury" to a "consumer discretionary". In 1999, the country set up the "Golden Week" holiday, which undoubtedly brought a huge impetus to the tourism market. That year, the total length of domestic highways just exceeded 10,000 kilometers, and by the end of 2022, this number had reached 5.35 million kilometers, becoming the world's first.

Against this backdrop, the form of tourism is also changing. People are no longer satisfied with simply "getting in the car to sleep and getting off to take pictures", but are beginning to pursue a more personalized and meaningful travel experience. This change in demand has promoted the diversification of the tourism market, and new forms of tourism such as self-driving tours, backpacking trips, and cultural exploration tours have emerged.

Now, walk-and-go travel has become a reality. According to the forecast of the China Tourism Academy, the number of domestic tourists is expected to exceed 6 billion in 2024, and tourism revenue is expected to exceed 6 trillion yuan. Behind this figure, tourism has become one of the important ways to improve our quality of life. At the same time, the way of tourism is fundamentally changing. Traditional group tours are gradually being replaced by personalized tours, and tourists are more willing to plan their itinerary according to their interests and pace.

In addition, the choice of tourist destinations is also changing. Traditionally popular cities and attractions are still attracting a large number of tourists, but more travelers are starting to move to lesser-known and unique destinations. These places tend to be less commercial, but offer a more pure and in-depth cultural experience. From discovering the living customs of ethnic minorities to experiencing local handicrafts, travel has transformed from simple sightseeing to a deep cultural and emotional experience.

With the improvement of people's requirements for travel quality, customized travel services have also emerged. Travel companies no longer offer a single package itinerary, but instead offer a trip plan that is tailored to the specific needs of the customer. This kind of service not only satisfies the needs of tourists for depth and freedom of travel, but also greatly improves the satisfaction and meaning of travel.

Advances in technology are also driving innovation in the travel industry. The application of digital technology and the Internet has made travel more convenient and smart. From booking flights and hotels online, to navigating and translating with mobile apps, technology has made every aspect of travel easier and more effective. What's more, the rise of social media has changed the way people share their travel experiences. By posting travel photos, videos, and journals, tourists share their stories and experiences on social networks, which not only enriches personal life memories, but also stimulates more people's interest and desire to travel.

The combination of culture and tourism has also become a new trend. Many areas offer cultural tourism programs such as culturally themed districts and historical interpretation activities to entice tourists to immerse themselves in local history and culture. This combination not only makes tourism a way to learn and experience, but also brings new vitality to the development of the local economy.

Looking ahead, the trend in the tourism industry will be to focus more on sustainability and quality. As the global focus on eco-friendly and sustainable tourism increases, more tourism activities will consider environmental impact and social responsibility. Tourism is no longer just a leisure activity, but an important platform for promoting cultural exchange, promoting economic development and achieving personal growth.

Seeing such changes and development of the tourism industry, one can't help but feel the close connection between the progress of the times and personal life. From simple sightseeing to in-depth experiences, from luxury to a part of everyday life, the evolution of tourism is not only the result of technological and economic development, but also a reflection of people's pursuit of quality of life. What do you think about this? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area and exchange your views with everyone!