Summer Tourism Boom in China: A Record-Breaking Peak Expected

Strategic Insights -

Fueled by government policies and attractive tourist packages, this summer promises to be a bumper season for tourism in China. The number of railway passenger trips between July 1 and August 31 is expected to reach 953 million, marking a year-on-year increase of 5.8 percent, according to the Ministry of Transport. The summer travel peak is expected to start earlier this year, with group tour bookings increasing by over 35 percent and bookings for overseas destinations surging 60 percent year-on-year.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of railway passenger trips between July 1 and August 31 is expected to reach 953 million, with a year-on-year increase of 5.8 percent.
  • The summer travel peak is expected to start earlier this year, with group tour bookings increasing by over 35 percent and bookings for overseas destinations surging 60 percent year-on-year.
  • High school graduates, college students, and families with children are major drivers of summer tourism consumption.
  • Families with children account for over 40 percent of the current bookings made on travel portal Tuniu.
  • Destinations with a temperate climate are recording a surge in bookings, with places like the Bortala Mongolian autonomous prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Zhaotong and Chuxiong in Yunnan province, and Ordos in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region being particularly popular.
  • Beijing, Shanghai, the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang, Qingdao in Shandong province, and Chengdu in Sichuan province are also attracting bookings due to their strong cultural vibes, modern cityscapes, and mouthwatering food.
  • Outbound travel has also logged robust growth, with visa applications on travel agency Trip.com Group recording double-digit growth.
  • Overseas destinations with shorter flight durations, such as Japan and South Korea, remain top choices for Chinese travelers this summer, while some faraway countries in Europe have also seen remarkable growth in bookings.

Statistics:

  • 953 million: The expected number of railway passenger trips between July 1 and August 31.
  • 5.8 percent: The year-on-year increase in railway passenger trips between July 1 and August 31.
  • 35 percent: The increase in group tour bookings on Tuniu.
  • 60 percent: The surge in bookings for overseas destinations on Tuniu.
  • 40 percent: The percentage of families with children accounting for current bookings on Tuniu.
  • Over 570 million yuan ($80 million): The government's consumption subsidies to the public in the form of coupons and discounted combined packages.

Sources:

  • Ministry of Transport
  • Tuniu
  • Qunar
  • Trip.com Group
  • State Council News