Outbound tours by Chinese continue to rise this summer

With sustained growth in the Chinese outbound tourism industry, Chinese travelers are playing a vital role in the recovery of the tourist sector in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

After the May Day holiday rush, Chinese people’s demand for outbound tourism is expected to continue soaring this summer, with a diverse upgrade from short-haul to long-haul journeys.

According to Airbnb's latest "Summer Outbound Tourism Trend Report," the search volume for outbound travel by Chinese users during early summer (July 1st to July 15th) has surged nearly sixfold, indicating stronger momentum compared to the spring season.

So far, Chinese users have booked Airbnb accommodations in nearly 10,000 towns and cities in 194 countries and regions for this summer.

With the continuous recovery of outbound tourism, Chinese traveling patterns have undergone profound changes. The destinations for outbound travel have become more diverse, ranging from nearby to faraway and from popular to niche places.

While Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia continue to be top destinations, Chinese travelers' interest in medium and long-haul destinations is significantly increasing. The top ten trending countries for this summer include Thailand, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, Italy, Malaysia, and South Korea.

Simultaneously, off-the-beaten-path destinations, characterized by less-crowded areas and relatively dispersed attractions, are capturing the attention of Chinese travelers. For example, Malaysia and the Philippines in Southeast Asia have seen over tenfold growth in search volume compared to the previous year.

Escaping summer heat and seeking relaxation have become the top choices for many families traveling with children this summer. Thailand, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand stand out due to their natural beauty and slight time difference.

As the driving force behind outbound travel, the younger Generation Z and millennials are eager for immersive traveling experiences.

With graduation season and study abroad programs approaching, the search volume for European countries continues to rise this summer. France ranks first among the trending destinations for Generation Z net users, and other popular European destinations include Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Norway.

Source: International Business Daily; trans-edited by Guo Yao