NANJING, China, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuniu Corporation (NASDAQ:TOUR) ("Tuniu" or the "Company"), a leading online leisure travel company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

"Despite recent challenges in the external environment, we have continued to fully leverage Tuniu's core competencies and strengths in product innovation and service quality to provide customers with safe and secure travel experiences. We will continue to focus on our mission to make travel easier while remaining dedicated to corporate social responsibility, and working with our customers and partners to overcome challenges, take on new opportunities and further promote the recovery and development of China's travel industry." said Mr. Donald Dunde Yu, Tuniu's founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Reflecting the progress we've made in optimizing our operations, Tuniu's operating expenses have decreased year-on-year for five consecutive quarters. We will continue to implement strict expense control measures to further lower costs and improve efficiency."

First Quarter 2022 Results

Net revenues were RMB41.5 million (US$6.5 million[1]) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 46.4% from the corresponding period in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the negative impact brought by the outbreak and spread of COVID-19.

• Revenues from packaged tours were RMB14.4 million (US$2.3 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 68.3% from the corresponding period in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the resurgence of COVID-19 in certain regions in China.
• Other revenues were RMB27.1 million (US$4.3 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 15.3% from the corresponding period in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the fees for advertising services provided to tourism boards and bureaus.

Cost of revenues was RMB25.7 million (US$4.0 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 47.3% from the corresponding period in 2021. As a percentage of net revenues, cost of revenues was 61.9% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 63.0% in the corresponding period in 2021.

Gross profit was RMB15.8 million (US$2.5 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 44.8% from the corresponding period in 2021.

Operating expenses were RMB68.6 million (US$10.8 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 17.8% from the corresponding period in 2021. Share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets, which were allocated to operating expenses, were RMB3.1 million (US$0.5 million) in the first quarter of 2022. Non-GAAP[2] operating expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets, were RMB65.5 million (US$10.3 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 17.6%.

• Research and product development expenses were RMB16.2 million (US$2.6 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year increase of 37.3%. Non-GAAP research and product development expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets of RMB0.8 million (US$0.1 million), were RMB15.4 million (US$2.4 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year increase of 41.9% from the corresponding period in 2021. The increase was primarily due to the increase in research and product development personnel related expenses.
• Sales and marketing expenses were RMB29.8 million (US$4.7 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 15.9%. Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets of RMB1.2 million (US$0.2 million), were RMB28.6 million (US$4.5 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 16.5% from the corresponding period in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in promotion expenses.
• General and administrative expenses were RMB27.7 million (US$4.4 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 38.2%. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets of RMB1.2 million (US$0.2 million), were RMB26.5 million (US$4.2 million) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a year-over-year decrease of 38.2% from the corresponding period in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in general and administrative personnel related expenses and allowance for doubtful accounts.

Loss from operations was RMB52.8 million (US$8.3 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to a loss from operations of RMB54.9 million in the first quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP loss from operations, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets, was RMB49.6 million (US$7.8 million) in the first quarter of 2022.

Net loss was RMB41.7 million (US$6.6 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to a net loss of RMB41.6 million in the first quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP net loss, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets, was RMB38.4 million (US$6.1 million) in the first quarter of 2022.

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB40.4 million (US$6.4 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to a net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RMB39.5 million in the first quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets, was RMB37.2 million (US$5.9 million) in the first quarter of 2022.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB929.5 million (US$146.6 million). The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted our business operations, and will continue to impact our results of operations and cash flows for subsequent periods. Based on our liquidity assessment and management actions, we believe that our available cash, cash equivalents and maturity of investments will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements and capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business for the next twelve months.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2022, the Company expects to generate RMB32.2 million to RMB40.2 million of net revenues, which represents a 75% to 80% decrease year-over-year. This forecast reflects Tuniu's current and preliminary view on the industry and its operations, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

Tuniu's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time, on June 9, 2022, (8:00 p.m., Beijing/Hong Kong Time, on June 9, 2022) to discuss the first quarter 2022 financial results.

To participate in the conference call, please dial the following numbers:

Conference ID: Tuniu 1Q 2022 Earnings Call

A telephone replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call through June 16, 2022. The dial-in details are as follows:

Replay Access Code: 2866159

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at .

About Tuniu

Tuniu (Nasdaq:TOUR) is a leading online leisure travel company in China that offers a large selection of packaged tours, including organized and self-guided tours, as well as travel-related services for leisure travelers through its website tuniu.com and mobile platform. Tuniu covers over 420 departing cities throughout China and all popular destinations worldwide. Tuniu provides one-stop leisure travel solutions and a compelling customer experience through its online platform and offline service network, including a dedicated team of professional customer service representatives, 24/7 call centers, extensive networks of offline retail stores and self-operated local tour operators. For more information, please visit .

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Tuniu may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Tuniu's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but are not limited to the following: Tuniu's goals and strategies; the growth of the online leisure travel market in China; the demand for Tuniu's products and services; its relationships with customers and travel suppliers; the Company's ability to offer competitive travel products and services; Tuniu's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; competition in the online travel industry in China; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company's structure, business and industry; the impact of the COVID-19 on Tuniu's business operations, the travel industry and the economy of China and elsewhere generally; and the general economic and business condition in China and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Tuniu does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company's unaudited consolidated financial results presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company has provided non-GAAP information related to cost of revenues, research and product development expenses, sales and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, other operating income, total operating expenses, loss from operations, net loss, net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, net loss per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders-basic and diluted and net loss per ADS-basic and diluted, which excludes share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets. We believe that the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful for understanding and assessing underlying business performance and operating trends, and management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our financial performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.

A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets is that share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets have been – and will continue to be – significant recurring expenses in the Company's business. You should not view non-GAAP results on a stand-alone basis or as a substitute for results under GAAP, or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies.

(Financial Tables Follow)