Following the Qingming holidays (April 4-6), the domestic tourism market is now gearing up for the Labor Day holidays (May 1st to 5th) booking peak. On April 12, Tongcheng Travel unveiled its “2024 Labor Day Holidays Travel Trend Report.” According to the data, the search interest in Labor Day-related travel surged sevenfold in the week after Qingming. Short and long-distance travel and outbound tourism are experiencing rapid growth, marked by increased travel distances and holiday durations. Many concerts, music festivals, and TV drama filming locations have emerged as popular attractions, influencing travel patterns across various destinations for the Labor Day holidays.
Ctrip unveiled the ‘2024 Labor Holiday Travel Trend Insights Report’ on April 16, indicating a sustained rise in this year’s Labor holiday travel excitement, building upon last year’s high levels, especially in outbound and inbound bookings. Medium to long-distance journeys are taking centre stage this Labor Day, with domestic long-distance travel bookings accounting for 56% of the total.
Outbound Travel Market
It’s not just the residents of major cities, people living in small and medium-sized cities are also starting to have a high interest in planning outbound trips. This year’s Labor Day holiday anticipates a rapid resurgence in the outbound travel market. According to Tongcheng Travel data, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Phuket, Singapore, Osaka, Seoul, Dubai, Ho Chi Minh City, and Chiang Mai are particularly popular. The most favoured outbound countries are Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, the USA, Indonesia, Australia, France, and Vietnam. Additionally, destinations along the Belt and Road initiative, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, have experienced significant growth in bookings.【Source: Ctrip Blackboard, Securities Star】
Outbound Travel Visas
Travel enthusiasm has triggered a significant surge in visa applications. Ctrip data reveals that since late February, demand for Labor Day outbound travel visas has tripled, with a consistent weekly growth of 50%. Applications have increased by over 30% compared to last year. Despite reinstating visa-free travel to Malaysia and Thailand, visa services have recovered to 90% of pre-pandemic levels. The demand for multiple visas has notably increased, with 56% of Ctrip’s customers applying for multiple entries, especially to Japan. This trend indicates a substantial increase in outbound travel for this year’s Labor Day, with the China Tourism Research Institute forecasting 130 million Chinese outbound travellers in 2023, reflecting a strong demand for multi-country tours and frequent international trips.【Source: People’s Political Consultative Conference Network】
Domestic Flight Prices
As of April 15, popular routes like Guangzhou-Beijing and Chengdu-Hangzhou experienced a 10% increase in prices from last year, whereas routes such as Kunming-Chengdu and Shanghai-Kunming saw a significant 30% decrease. Despite a slight year-over-year drop in average domestic flight prices, they have risen about 40% since this year’s Qingming holiday.【Source: Ctrip Blackboard】
Cruise Market
As the cruise market gradually rebounds, the Tongcheng Travel platform is seeing a continuous rise in inquiries for outbound cruises during the Labor Day holiday. Large cruise ships such as MSC’s MSC Glory and Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas have returned to their home ports in China, along with domestic cruise ships like the Aidamodu and the Merchants Yidun. The domestic cruise market is expected to thrive during the Labor Day holiday. As of April 16, international cruises departing from Shanghai and Xiamen are almost sold out, with the Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) exceeding 1.5 times that of the same period in 2019.【Source: Ctrip Blackboard】
Popular Domestic Destinations & Attractions
As of April 12, Tongcheng Travel data highlights Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Changsha, Xi’an, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, and Hangzhou as the most popular destinations for the Labor Day holiday. Family, cultural, and culinary tours are increasingly popular among young travelers seeking deep-experience activities. Top family attractions include Beijing Universal Resort, Shanghai Disneyland, and Guangzhou Chimelong Paradise. The Nanjing Red Mountain Zoo and the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base also draw significant family crowds, while Xi’an and Changsha attract young travellers with their blend of historical and contemporary culture.”【Source: Securities Star】
Inbound Tourism Market
For the Labor Day holiday, inbound travel bookings surged by 130% compared to last year. The top countries of origin included Japan, the USA, South Korea, Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, the UK, Australia, Russia, and France, with Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Xi’an. Kunming is one of the most popular domestic destinations.【Source: Ctrip Blackboard】
Modes of Travel
In May, favourable weather across many regions makes it ideal for family and child-friendly travel. Ctrip’s car rental data shows that family outings represent 45% of all bookings, predominantly for SUVs and business vehicles, with RV reservations nearly septupling year-over-year. During the Labor Day period, domestic self-drive rentals increased by 40%. International self-drive rentals soared by 132%, with new customers comprising 60%. Early April saw a 60% year-over-year increase in bookings for local guided tours on Ctrip. Popular local guide hiring destinations include Bangkok, Phuket, Dubai, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong, with many guides already fully booked.【Source: Ctrip Blackboard】