As we head into the Chinese summer school holidays, it’s a good time to look at what we can expect from China’s outbound travel market this year.
Unsurprisingly, the school summer holiday is the peak travel period for the family market. Chinese schools are very strict about abiding by holiday dates, and all children are expected at their desks on the last and first days of term, fresh and ready to learn (and not suffering from jet lag!).
The summer is also a peak travel time to destinations which are known for poor weather at other times of the year, for example, Northern Europe.
For the UK, the three months July – September have traditionally accounted for nearly 50% of the visits for the year. This is explained by the strong lure of the UK for the family and study tour markets, the weather, and the Chinese student intake in September. To accommodate this, Beijing Capital Airlines has laid on three specific flights this summer to London Gatwick departing from Qingdao in June, July and September. The first flight which arrived on 28th June was fully booked.
Year on year growth topping 50%
During the summer travel season of July 1st through to August 31st, we can expect the outbound tourism market to flourish. Travel agencies are reporting more than a 50% increase in outbound travel orders for these months. Tuniu is reporting a 60% increase in outbound travel this summer.
Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai are set to handle a total of 150,000 flights over the two-month period, which reveals a 5% year-on-year increase. The average daily passenger volume in the two major Shanghai airports will reach 396,000, a 7% increase year-on-year. And we can see the impact spreading more regionally too, with the Harbin Taiping International Airport in Northeast China expecting to handle more than 500 flights daily with a significant increase in passenger flow.
Travel to and from China is soaring this summer, as data from Umetrip shows the number of booked plane tickets in July has exceeded 3.35 million, up 7% year-on-year.
Ctrip, China’s biggest online travel agency, has released data showing strong bookings for summer 2025. Visa applications this summer are up 10% year-on-year, with interest in destinations like Italy, Norway, and Germany reaching new heights with the number of visa related applications increasing by over 80 year-on-year. Demand is also buoyed by a number of visa-free country agreements across the world, allowing Chinese tourists to visit without the need for a visa, or with simplified online applications.
Individual visa applications have climbed by 160%, confirming a major growth in outbound travel, according to data collected by Spring Tour.
Where are they travelling?
According to Fliggy, a very large OTA with a higher proportion of FIT sales than its closest competitor, C Trip, the top five destinations for this summer will be Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and the UK, with many of the fastest growing destinations being Eastern European countries, in particular, Georgia, Hungary and Serbia (all benefiting from visa-free arrangements with China).
Who is travelling?
Families obviously, but there is travel among all segments, with a continuation of the trend away from Groups to FIT and small group tailormade travel. The number of family visa applications are up 16% this year on C Trip and account for 22% of total visa applications. Remember, many people will already have visas in place. Also, the first 10 year visas to the US are expiring this year, so expect to see those being renewed.
The summer outlook is bright for outbound travel from China and we are here to help. Please contact Guanxi for support in capturing your share of the Chinese market.