CCTV9英语新闻：越来越多的中国人出国度假

More Chinese people than ever this year are choosing to spend the Spring Festival holidays overseas. According to official figures, 5.19 million people are expected to travel overseas for the Lunar New year. What are their destinations, and why the growing passion for overseas travel?

The Spring Festival is traditionally a time for Chinese people to travel back to their home towns. But in recent years, many are opting¹ for other destinations, as the country becomes wealthier.

According to the China National Tourism Administration, 5.19 million Chinese are expected to travel abroad for the Spring Festival holidays, a figure that exceeds domestic tourism for the first time.

South Korea tops the destination list, followed by Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Maldives, and Singapore.

"Spring Festival sees the country's outbound tourism peak, so the resources become relatively² scarce. Prices generally inflate³ two or three fold compared with normal times. Top destinations are Asian Islands with easy visa application processes, short flight times, and nice weather," said Wang Zhuli, from Caissa Touristic.

The passion for overseas travel is also fuelled by more flexible visa policies.

The US last year started issuing 10-year multiple entry visas, and Japan is now offers three-year multiple-entry visas.

"Countries such as America, Japan, Europe, and Australia have launched easier visa services for Chinese nationals. Apart from the extended period of validity, visas processes are also easier and less costly⁴ for tourists, including services like visa on arrival, visa-free visits and group visa options. This is making it more convenient for Chinese people to travel overseas," said Dai Bin⁵, China Tourism Academy.

A modern way of spending a millennia⁶ old holiday.
 

1 opting   

v.选择，挑选( opt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• What courses are most students opting for? 多数学生选什么课程？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Wells doesn't rule out opting out and then re-signing with Houston. 威尔斯没有排除跳出合同再与火箭重签的可能。 来自互联网

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 inflate   

vt.使膨胀，使骄傲，抬高（物价）

参考例句：

• The buyers bid against each other and often inflate the prices they pay.买主们竞相投标，往往人为地提高价钱。
• Stuart jumped into the sea and inflated the liferaft.斯图尔特跳到海里给救生艇充气。

4 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

5 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

6 millennia   

n.一千年，千禧年

参考例句：

• For two millennia, exogamy was a major transgression for Jews. 两千年来，异族通婚一直是犹太人的一大禁忌。
• In the course of millennia, the dinosaurs died out. 在几千年的时间里，恐龙逐渐死绝了。