Chinese tourists plan overseas trips for extended Lunar New Year break

Chinese tourists plan overseas trips for extended Lunar New Year break

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Feb. 12 — Chinese travel agencies say more tourists will head overseas for next week’s extra-long Lunar New Year break, with Russia, Australia, Thailand and South Korea among the top choices, according to Reuters.

The nine-day Spring Festival holiday begins Feb. 15, one day longer than usual, and comes as China expects a record 9.5 billion passenger trips during the 40‑day travel rush, per Reuters and The Straits Times.

Warm-weather favorites

Thailand has returned to the top of outbound travel rankings because of its warm weather, said Zhou Weihong of Shanghai-based Spring Tour, while domestic demand is split between Hainan’s beaches and snow tourism in Changbai Mountain, according to Reuters and The Straits Times.

Travel agencies say bookings to Russia have more than doubled from last year, helped by Moscow’s December visa-waiver for Chinese visitors, per Reuters and BusinessWorld.

Long-haul rebound

Trip.com said a rebound in long-haul travel has pushed visitors to Australia more than 100% higher than a year earlier, while international seat capacity during the holiday period is up 9%, according to Reuters and BusinessWorld.

Industry data indicate international flying now accounts for about half of available seat kilometers during the Spring Festival rush, signaling a stronger role for outbound travel, per Reuters and The Straits Times.

Japan loses ground

Japan has slipped in popularity amid political tensions and China’s safety warnings to travelers, and flight data show China-Japan routes down roughly 49% from a year earlier, according to Reuters and The Independent.

Airlines have broadened refund and change policies for Japan routes, and dozens of flights that operated during last year’s holiday period have been canceled, per The Independent and The Straits Times.

Economists say travelers are prioritizing spending on experiences despite a softer economy and a protracted property downturn, according to Reuters and The Independent.