Trip.com Group data shows that Golden Week 2025 is expected to be one of the busiest travel periods in recent years, with outbound accommodation bookings from China recording triple-digit growth year-on-year.
Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the holiday provides an average eight-day break, extending up to 12 days for those taking additional leave. The longer period is driving a broad rise in travel demand, with momentum likely to continue through Golden Week and the autumn season.
Japan and South Korea remain the main outbound markets, with Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore also in the top five. Osaka, Tokyo, and Seoul are leading destinations, while demand is rising for island and coastal cities including Cebu, Phu Quoc, Okinawa, Jeju, Nha Trang, Perth, Fukuoka, Sydney, and Macau.
In Europe, Düsseldorf bookings are up 188 per cent year-on-year, followed by strong growth in Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Geneva, Brussels, Oslo, Barcelona, Rome, and Nice.
Africa and the Middle East are also seeing increases. Johannesburg bookings are up 232 per cent, with Cairo and Kilimanjaro recording gains. Doha has grown 441 per cent, Abu Dhabi 229 per cent, with Riyadh also attracting higher numbers.
Travellers are booking earlier, with average lead times one week ahead of 2024, and are seeking cost-efficient options. Hostels saw a 240 per cent rise in reservations, led by younger travellers, while home stays, resorts, serviced apartments, ryokans, and villas also recorded growth.
Holiday overlaps across East Asia are driving demand for shorthaul routes. During Japan’s Silver Week from September 13 to 23, outbound travel rose 30 per cent year-on-year. South Korea’s Chuseok from October 3 to 9 recorded an 80 per cent increase. In Japan, 70 per cent of bookings are shorthaul flights; in South Korea, 62 per cent.
Chinese destinations including Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Dalian, Qingdao, and Tianjin are the top choices for Japanese and Korean visitors. Trip.com Group has added the Hong Kong Free Layover Tour Service, offering six half-day itineraries. Flight bookings from Japan and South Korea to Dali, Quanzhou, Zhangjiajie, and Weihai are also rising.
