China sees robust boost in travel booking as Lunar New Year Holiday nears – Travel And Tour World

During the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday in China, also known as Spring Festival (21-27 January 2023), a surge in outbound bookings has been observed, marking the first major holiday following the liberalization of border policies.

Ctrip data reveals a remarkable 540% increase in overseas travel for the seven-day Chinse Lunar New Year period compared to last year’s Spring Festival. Additionally, the average cost of bookings has risen by 32% year-on-year.

China sees robust booking in airline industry

Specifically, airline bookings from mainland China to Hong Kong have experienced an extraordinary 18-fold increase compared to the previous year, following the announcement of eased restrictions. Notably, the number of airline bookings to Hong Kong has seen a 36% month-on-month increase. The search popularity of Hong Kong on the Ctrip platform has more than doubled, registering an 85% month-on-month increase. Domestically, the top ten Spring Festival destinations include Shanghai, Beijing, Sanya, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Haikou.

Notable Surge in Travel in China

Trip.com Group, a leading global travel service provider, has experienced a notable surge in travel bookings from mainland China, driven by the approaching Lunar New Year holiday season. This uptick follows mainland China’s recent decision to officially eliminate all quarantine restrictions for inbound visitors starting from January 8.

Substantial Surge in in Travel Bookings

Since the announcement on December 26, 2022, Trip.com Group has witnessed a substantial increase in both searches and the volume of travel bookings. On Ctrip, the company’s primary Chinese-language travel service platform, data reveals a remarkable 83% surge in search interest for outbound flights from mainland China between December 26, 2022, and January 5, 2023, compared to the preceding two weeks. Concurrently, outbound flight bookings saw a 59% increase during the same period.

Cross-border Travel Destinations sets travel boost

The most sought-after cross-border destinations, based on bookings, include Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia.

As the Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, approaches (scheduled from January 21 to 27, 2023), millions of Chinese travelers are expected to be on the move. Outbound bookings for trips during the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday have surged by a remarkable 540% compared to the previous year’s Spring Festival. The average cost of bookings has also seen a substantial year-on-year increase of 32%.

Examining domestic travel trends during the Spring Festival, the top ten most popular destinations within mainland China are Shanghai, Beijing, Sanya, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Haikou.

Southeast Asia emerges as a standout outbound destination

Southeast Asia emerges as a standout outbound destination, with overall travel bookings of mainland Chinese tourists to Southeast Asian countries increasing by an astounding 1026% compared to the same period last year. Air ticket bookings from mainland China to Southeast Asia have surged by 864% year-on-year. The top five most popular destination countries for mainland Chinese tourists traveling to Southeast Asia during the Lunar New Year holiday are Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

Thailand tops as a top destination for Spring Festival holiday

Thailand, in particular, stands out as a top destination during the Spring Festival holiday, according to Ctrip’s data. From December 27 to January 11, inbound travel bookings from Thailand to mainland China increased by 101% year-on-year.

With the adjustment of mainland China’s entry and exit policy, the cross-border travel market is experiencing renewed momentum. Various embassies and tourism boards worldwide are actively targeting Chinese tourists to attract them back to their countries.

Tourism Authority of Thailand launches ‘China is back’

An illustrative example is the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which launched the ‘CHINA IS BACK’ campaign to welcome the return of Chinese tourists. TAT anticipates over 300,000 Chinese tourists visiting Thailand in the first three months of 2023.

To enhance this welcoming return, Trip.com Group conducted its first livestream broadcast targeting the outbound mainland Chinese audience. This event recorded sales of more than 20,000 room nights, totaling a Gross Merchandise Value exceeding RMB 40 million (THB 197 million). The livestream session, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, featured almost 60 products, including attraction tickets and staycation packages at renowned hotels across Thailand.

As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, the surge in travel bookings from mainland China not only signals a revival in the tourism industry but also underscores the resilience and adaptability of the travel sector amid changing global circumstances.

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