More Chinese tourists are expected to travel overseas during next week’s extra-long Lunar New Year break, travel agencies report. Top destinations include Thailand, Russia, Australia, and South Korea, while Japan has lost some of its previous appeal.
The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is one of China’s longest holidays. This year, it spans nine days from 15 February, a day longer than usual, ushering in the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. Millions of Chinese traditionally travel home for family reunions, boosting domestic spending in shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Domestic and International Travel Surge
China anticipates a record 9.5 billion passenger trips over the 40-day travel rush, up from 9.02 billion last year. Officials hope the extended holiday encourages both domestic journeys and outbound tourism.
“Thailand has returned to being the top outbound destination thanks to its weather, when most parts of China remain cold,” said Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of Shanghai-based Spring Tour, the travel arm of budget carrier Spring Airlines.
Domestic leisure demand is split between warm and snowy destinations, with tropical Hainan Island and northeastern Changbai Mountain remaining popular.
Long-Haul Travel Gains Popularity
Bookings to Russia have more than doubled compared with last year, while trips to northern Europe have also surged. Sienna Parulis-Cook, marketing and communications director at Dragon Trail Research, attributed Russia’s popularity to Moscow waiving visas for Chinese visitors in December.
Australia has seen a rebound in long-haul travel, with Trip.com reporting a more than 100% increase in visitors during the period compared with the previous year. Aviation intelligence firm IBA said seat capacity on international flights rose 9% year-on-year.
Japan’s Tourism Appeal Declines
Political tensions between China and Japan have eroded Japan’s attractiveness as a travel destination. Flight data for the week starting 2 February shows travel between China and Japan fell 49.2% compared with a year earlier, according to Flight Master.
All flights on 58 routes that operated during last year’s Spring Festival have been cancelled, and airlines have broadened refund and change policies for Japan-bound trips.
(with inputs from Reuters)
