The upcoming five-day May Day holiday in China is marked by a surge in bookings and a welcome boom in the tourism industry. This rebound in travel demand is a positive sign for campers, hikers, and tourists both domestically and internationally.
Trip.com, a leading online travel operator, reports that domestic trip bookings have reached 2019 levels, demonstrating an increase of over 700% compared to the same period last year.
As per a report by the Shine, outbound tour bookings have experienced an even greater jump, soaring by more than 1,800%.
“The strong travel demand by Chinese tourists is expected to be fully released during the holiday, and outbound tourism is expected to witness a boom,” said Tourism Analyst Fang Zeqian sharing an optimistic outlook.
This surge in demand also reflects tourists’ willingness to venture further, with long-distance trips making up nearly 40% of total bookings, an 811% increase from the previous year.
Popular sea-view hotels near Erhai Lake in Dali, Yunnan Province, are already fully reserved, with some suites fetching prices of 11,450 yuan (US$1,660) per night. Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia emerged as the most popular outbound destinations for Chinese tourists during the holiday.
Digital platform Meituan reports a 200% surge in bookings for accommodation, transport, and tourist attractions at domestic destinations compared to the same period in 2019.
Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Wuhan residents show a particularly strong interest in traveling during the holiday, opting for classic routes such as Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La and Tengchong-Mangshi-Ruili in Yunnan.
Chinese travel review website Mafengwo also signals a May Day holiday travel boom as its travel index continues to climb.
Over 80% of total bookings are for long-distance trips, with Sanya, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Guiyang being the most popular domestic destinations.
Families with children are driving the increase in bookings for amusement parks, zoos, and cultural venues such as museums. Top attractions include Shanghai Disney Resort, the Palace Museum, Universal Beijing Resort, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Hiking, camping, and water sports activities are also gaining traction during the holiday, with Moganshan Mountain and Wuzhizhou Island proving to be popular choices for outdoor enthusiasts.