China’s eight-day Golden Week holiday, which combines the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday, is set to drive booking consumption as Trip.com Group’s data reveals. Outbound travel orders in China increased nearly 20 times, and domestic travel increased more than four times over the Golden Week period this year, compared to the same period in 2022.
With this Golden Week being the first long holiday since the resumption of international travel, outbound travel has experienced a significant surge in growth.
During the country’s National Day holiday, overall orders have increased nearly 20 times year-on-year with popular countries for outbound travel, including Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the UK, and more.
More bespoke and previously untravelled destinations are on the rise for this holiday, with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Sri Lanka, Kenya and other countries experiencing the highest increase in group tour orders compared with the same period before the pandemic.
It is worth noting that users’ outbound travel consumption has increasingly changed, with travellers more willing to pay for in-depth experiences and high-quality services.
Globally, the volume of five-star bookings for the Golden Week period have surged compared to the same period last year – by 562 per cent in South-east Asia, by 559 per cent in the Middle East, and by 379% in Europe.
Moreover, in Europe, the volume of first class and business class flight seats have increased by 300 per cent for this year’s Golden Week period compared to the same period last year.
Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group, said: “This year’s holiday season reflects a strong desire among travellers for unique and immersive experiences. We’ve observed a significant shift towards high-quality services and in-depth travel encounters. Travellers are not just exploring popular destinations but also seeking authentic and off-the-beaten-path experiences.”
Private tours, with independent groups and flexible itineraries, are more popular among users during National Day. Trip.com Group’s data shows that National Day outbound private group tour orders increased significantly by more than two times compared with August this year.
In addition, with Hangzhou hosting the Asian Games later this year, it will help spur domestic travel as well.
Overall, order booking volume during the National Day holiday has increased by more than five times year-on-year. Air ticket booking volume also increased by nearly five times year-on-year, and hotel booking volume increased by more than eight times year-on-year.
Meanwhile, the proportion of inter-provincial travel orders reached 73 per cent, an increase of 10 percentage points compared with the same period in 2022, and nearly 20 per cent of users chose to stay for three or more days.
Popular destinations for long-term travel are focused around the north-west region, suitable for autumn tours, such as Burqin, Urumqi, Lanzhou, and Dunhuang, as well as Sanya, Guangzhou, Xiamen and other places in South China with pleasant climates.
