China witnessed an explosive growth in outbound tourism during the extended International Labor Day holiday from May 1st to May 5th.
Data from leading online travel companies in the populous nation indicate a significant increase in international tour bookings by Chinese travelers. Among the top 10 foreign destinations favored by Chinese tourists, Vietnam ranks highly.
For instance, according to the online travel platform Qunar, the top 10 destinations for Chinese holidaymakers in May include Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the United States, the Philippines, and Australia. Notably, flight bookings to Japan surged by over 60% compared to the same period in 2019, making it the destination with the highest growth among the top 10.
Moreover, data from Trip.com Group reveals that Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the United States, France, and Vietnam are among the most attractive foreign destinations for Chinese tourists during the upcoming National Day holiday (October 1st), as reported by the Global Times.
Chinese tourists entering Mong Cai
The number of international flight bookings by Chinese travelers on the first day of the May 1st holiday reached a record high, increasing by 20% compared to 2019. According to Qunar’s data, nearly 100 foreign destinations experienced significant increases in flight bookings.
Flight bookings to some visa-free destinations during the holiday surpassed the figures recorded during the same period in 2019. Specifically, bookings to Thailand and Malaysia increased by over 30%, while bookings to Singapore and Georgia doubled.
Chinese tourists are also willing to opt for longer-distance travel during the 5-day holiday period. The Middle East and Europe emerge as popular choices for holiday destinations, with Saudi Arabia and Egypt experiencing a more than threefold increase in flight bookings. Similarly, countries like the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Qatar saw flight bookings rise by over 50%. According to Qunar’s data, popular European destinations such as the UK, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, and Croatia witnessed a doubling in flight bookings.
Meanwhile, with the Japanese yen hitting its lowest level in 34 years against the US dollar, Japan attracted a large number of foreign tourists, including Chinese travelers. According to Ctrip, Japan is the top destination for outbound tourism during the May 1st holiday, followed by Thailand and South Korea. Airbnb’s data also indicates that Japan is the most searched destination.
The booming outbound tourism is facilitated by the increase in international flights. China Southern Airlines added over 900 flights from April 30th to May 6th, operating nearly 19,000 flights in total. China Eastern Airlines also expanded its international and regional routes, including flights from various Chinese cities to destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Russia, and many other countries.
@Thanhnien.vn
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Source: Vietnam Insider