NEWS: China’s Outbound Travel Surges as Spring Festival Spurs Record Trips

Chinese travellers are making a robust return to international destinations, with visa applications for outbound trips in 2025 registering double-digit growth, signaling renewed confidence in overseas travel.

The Year of the Horse has brought a nine-day Spring Festival holiday, beginning February 15, expected to generate a record 9.5 billion passenger trips as Chinese travellers take advantage of one of the longest holidays in recent years.

Popular Destinations See Varied Trends

Countries including Australia, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam are experiencing a surge in Chinese visitors during the festive period. Thailand, which faced a decline in visitors last year due to safety concerns, is reportedly regaining popularity.

Conversely, Japan continues to see a sharp drop in demand, down as much as 60% compared with last year, following a political dispute late last year.

Air Connectivity and Long-Haul Travel on the Rise

Chinese airlines are expanding international routes, and Beijing Daxing International Airport reports strong growth for long-haul destinations in the Middle East and Europe, complementing established regional favourites such as Hong Kong, Macao, and Southeast Asian countries.

Guan Jian, spokesperson for GZL International Travel Service, noted that nearly 300 outbound tour groups departed in the week before Chinese New Year’s Eve on February 16, with 65% featuring eight- to twelve-day long-haul itineraries. Popular destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and Europe.

Growing Demand for Premium Travel Experiences

Industry projections indicate that China’s outbound travel market will exceed 225 million trips in 2026, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. More than 90% of affluent Chinese travellers plan overseas trips this year. High-net-worth individuals are taking trips averaging 16 days or more, with per-capita budgets frequently exceeding RMB 100,000 (US$14,500).

Visa application trends from 2025 highlight significant interest in Northern and Central-Eastern Europe, with countries like Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and Germany seeing double-digit growth, particularly for long-haul and value-driven travel experiences.

This resurgence reflects China’s dynamic outbound travel sector, marked by rising medium- and long-haul trips, expanding international connectivity, and increasing demand for premium, value-oriented travel experiences.