Women lead the way in tourism

    BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Well-educated and well-paid single Chinese women were at the forefront of a boom in travel by the country's women in 2010.
    According to the 2010 Trend Report of Women's Travel, the amount of travel by Chinese women increased by 20 percent last year, with well-educated and well-paid single women becoming the main force in the tourism market.
    Travel expenditure¹(支出,花费) per capita by women on the Chinese mainland was 4,300 yuan ($655) in 2010, and the 20-percent year-on-year rise was much larger than the 9- percent increase for men.
    Qunar.com, the world's largest online travel search engine in Chinese, released the report. The Beijing-based site was launched in 2005. According to Dai Zheng, vice-president of Qunar.com, women's growing spending power has led to more of them choosing travel as a way to cosset(宠爱,溺爱) themselves, especially well-educated and well-paid single women, who travel for relaxation² and self-improvement.
    Zhang Jing, 31, who works for a consulting company in Shanghai and earns nearly 20,000 yuan monthly, spent 15,000 yuan on travel last year, including a trip to the Tibet autonomous³ region in Southwest China and another to Singapore.
    "Travel not only releases work pressure, but also opens up my horizon on the world. I like to see and experience how others live," said Zhang, who plans to visit Thailand in May with two female friends who are both around 30 years of age.
    "Women are active in all of our travel projects. I definitely(清除地,明确的) feel that it's mostly women who are interested in our products," said Zhao Huijin, who works in the booking center of the E-commerce department of China International Travel Service (CITS).
    Zhao's remarks to China Daily were echoed by the report, which said more than 65 percent of decisions about travel products and travel expenditure were made by women.
    In addition, women tended to be more demanding of hotels, and preferred to comment and find fault with hotels. On the forum⁴ at Qunar.com, women made nearly 70 percent of the comments on hotels.
    Women's more active participation⁵ in travel means that when the industry's decision-makers develop new travel products they take greater note of women's views about travel.
    In recent years, products targeted at women have appeared, such as women's hotels, certain hotel floors especially reserved for women, and travel themed around shopping, healthcare and relaxation.
    Le Meridien, a five-star hotel in Xiamen, Fujian province, set up a floor tailored for women customers in July 2010.
    Adding to the high quality of certain facilities that women care about most, such as excellent sound insulation⁶, the 32 suites⁷ on this floor are also equipped with products especially for women, including fresh fruits, low-calorie food, yoga mats, bath salts, facial masks and hangers⁸ for silk clothes.
    "These rooms are warmly appreciated by ladies, and we hope to meet women customers' needs both physically⁹ and psychologically through appropriate care," said Wang Yan, assistant manager of the hotel's marketing¹⁰ and communication department.
    The report also revealed that women's choice of destination is strongly influenced by fashion. They enjoy traveling to scenic¹¹ spots featured in the latest romantic movies and TV dramas.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

2 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

3 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

4 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

5 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

6 insulation   

n.隔离；绝缘；隔热

参考例句：

• Please examine the insulation of the electric wires in my house.请检查一下我屋子里电线的绝缘情况。
• It is always difficult to assure good insulation between the electric leads.要保证两个电触头之间有良好的绝缘总是很困难的。

7 suites   

n.套( suite的名词复数 )；一套房间；一套家具；一套公寓

参考例句：

• First he called upon all the Foreign Ministers in their hotel suites. 他首先到所有外交部长住的旅馆套间去拜访。 来自辞典例句
• All four doors to the two reserved suites were open. 预定的两个套房的四扇门都敞开着。 来自辞典例句

8 hangers   

n.衣架( hanger的名词复数 )；挂耳

参考例句：

• The singer was surrounded by the usual crowd of lackeys and hangers on. 那个歌手让那帮总是溜须拍马、前呼後拥的人给围住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I want to put some of my good hangers in Grandpa's closet. 我想在爷爷的衣橱放几个好的衣架。 来自辞典例句

9 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

10 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

11 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。