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China Express Travel, a tour agency in Hong Lim Complex, said it has received around 30 per cent more queries for tours to the Chaoshan region in eastern Guangdong, where the movie was filmed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A six-day visit next month to Chaoshan is\u00a0already\u00a0fully booked, and limited spaces remain for similar packages to the region for the rest of the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The tour includes visiting filming locations of Dear You and experiencing authentic Chaoshan culture such as Yingge dance, a Chinese folk dance combining martial arts and opera.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis movie has made people reminisce and feel nostalgic. Its influence goes beyond those with roots in Chaoshan,\u201d said Li Liang Yi, founder of China Express Travel.<\/span><\/p>\n Li said the film resonates with newer immigrants to Singapore, including himself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMany have been inspired to visit their ancestral hometowns to connect with long lost relatives or see how the places have changed,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n The agency said the hype has also spread beyond Chaoshan, with a 15 per cent increase in interest for travel to China in general. It plans to organise more tour packages to meet the demand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another travel agency, EU Holidays, said enquiries for Chaoshan and other southern China cultural itineraries have risen by 15 to 20 per cent compared with the same period last year.<\/span><\/p>\n Riding on the movie\u2019s nostalgic\u00a0appeal, the company has introduced heritage and homecoming\u00a0tours\u00a0inspired by\u00a0its themes.<\/span><\/p>\n Travellers can participate in Chaoshan cultural activities, opt for ancestral research or even arrange to meet up with their relatives still living in China.<\/span><\/p>\n EU Holidays director Alan Ang said the itineraries were designed to offer a more meaningful travel experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Among the activities is one that invites visitors to write a letter to their grandmother, echoing a poignant element in the film.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt’s not just about travelling.\u00a0(The letter) can act as a reflection of your own self, deeper emotional bonding, also of course, as a keepsake for the tour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The agency is also exploring partnerships with clan associations\u00a0in Singapore\u00a0and local historians in China to ensure the heritage experiences are historically accurate and culturally\u00a0authentic.<\/span><\/p>\n