China’s Spring Festival calls for surge in tourism

Sunday, January 14, 2024

As the Spring Festival countdown begins, China‘s tourism industry is preparing for a vibrant season.

The revelry is fueled by pent-up wanderlust and a longer-than-usual holiday.

The eight-day 2024 Spring Festival holiday from February 10 to 17 will last one day longer than the previous ones.

Data from an online travel agency showed a sevenfold year-on-year jump in international air ticket searches from February 8 to 17.

It is exceeding 2019 levels.

Southeast Asia was the most popular with searchers. There are warmer destinations like Thailand and Malaysia benefitting from visa-free policies for Chinese tourists.

There is prediction of a rapid rebound in Chinese outbound travel in 2024. It may recover to the 2019 levels by 2025.

The resumption of group tours, especially for destinations like Japan and South Korea, was seen as a key catalyst.

Increased international flight capacity, relaxed visa policies and lower airfares are also expected to boost recovery.

The China Tourism Academy predicts the number of inbound and outbound trips to exceed 264 million in 2024.

International tourism revenue is likely to surpass $107 billion.

Meanwhile, the country’s domestic tourism scene has also been bustling.

China’s Harbin, the capital of northeastern Heilongjiang Province known as the “ice city,” has emerged as the top Spring Festival destination in recent weeks.

Ice skating, skiing and sightseeing have been drawing travellers there.

According to a Chinese news agency, there has been a 270-percent increase in travel bookings for Heilongjiang Province over the past month.

China’s southern charm beckons as well.

A data showcases a 302 percent month-on-month surge in searches for a trip to Sanya.

It is a popular holiday destination in the southern island province of Hainan.

With ice and snow adventures in the north and tropical escapes in the south, coupled with a rebound in international travel, China is preparing for a vibrant holiday season.

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