Chinese tourists pose in a rape field.Photo credit: Getty Images
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Published April 29, 2024
Data from Alibaba Group’s travel platform Fliggy and navigation app Amap reveals that Chinese tourists are setting off on land and air flights in droves this week for the five-day Golden Week holiday in May. became.
The holiday period, which begins with China’s Labor Day on May 1, will see millions of people across the country traveling near and far to sightsee and relax with friends and family.
Overseas travel bookings for the 2024 holiday period have doubled compared to the previous year, with cruises, car rentals and individual itineraries driving demand, Friggy said.
Regional tourism powerhouses such as Japan, Thailand, South Korea and Australia accounted for the majority of outbound bookings, but destinations further afield such as Brazil and Turkey are also seeing increased interest.
Similarly, domestic travel for the upcoming May Golden Week is likely to break pre-pandemic records as Chinese tourists explore folk culture across the country.
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According to Fliggy, tour bookings within China have doubled compared to the same period in 2019, with domestic tourists planning to visit popular destinations such as Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Wuhan.
Car rentals also surged five times on the platform during the holiday period. Amap predicts that traffic will peak on the morning of May 1st and in the afternoon of May 5th as travelers depart and return from their adventures.
Go further for less
International travel has become more affordable, making it easier for Chinese travelers to expand their horizons.
According to Fliggy, the average price per person for international flight tickets during the May Day holiday period fell 19% from a year earlier.
“Flight tickets are much cheaper than last year, and there are more options for overseas destinations,” said Wang, a Beijing-based Fliggy user. She plans to travel with her family on her upcoming vacation.
Sea travel is also a hot topic among Chinese consumers, according to the platform’s booking data.
The number of international cruise packages booked through Fliggy during your next vacation has increased more than 16 times year-on-year.
Tailor-made travel
Booking data shows that Chinese tourists are increasingly traveling alone or in small groups to explore destinations at their own pace and immerse themselves in local culture.
Friggy said group travel bookings are down compared to last year, but individual travel continues to increase. According to market research firm Fast Data, the platform ranks first in the outbound personal travel sector with a market share of 39.4%.
Within China, consumer preference for authentic local experiences, often accessed through rental car travel, is increasing, and interest in cultural heritage tourism is growing.
Many domestic tourists visiting historic sites such as Hangzhou’s UNESCO World Heritage Site West Lake and Chongqing’s ancient Shibati district wear Hanfu, the clothing traditionally worn by the Han Chinese for centuries past. I enjoy dressing up and wearing them.
Their attire may be outdated, but tourists will rely on Amap’s high-tech travel planning tools to beat the expected surge in crowds and traffic jams.
The platform predicts that West Lake will be the most popular scenic spot for solo travelers during Golden Week in May, and shares alternative routes to avoid highway congestion.
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