As the May Day holiday approaches, travel agencies and tourism experts are optimistic about the performance of the tourism market, with both domestic and outbound tourism visits projected to surge during the period.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of domestic tourist visits reached 1.8 billion in the first three months, a 26.4% increase year-on-year, leading to tourism-related consumption of approximately 1.8 trillion yuan ($250 billion), a 18.6% surge on a yearly basis.
Strong Tourist Consumption Figures
- Domestic tourist visits reached 1.8 billion in the first three months, a 26.4% increase year-on-year.
- Tourism-related consumption reached 1.8 trillion yuan ($250 billion), a 18.6% surge on a yearly basis.
Travel agencies and tourism experts are bullish about the tourism market’s performance during the upcoming May Day holiday, with both domestic and outbound tourism visits projected to boom during the period.
Confidence from Tourism Bookings
- Tuniu reported a 100% increase in tourism bookings on the platform linked to domestic destinations by mid-April compared to the same period last year.
- Qunar said tourism to smaller cities, counties and towns is showing an uptrend, especially among young travelers seeking unique experiences.
- Top destinations that are lesser-known but trendy include Pingtan county, Fujian province; Yangshuo, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region; and Anji county, Zhejiang province.
Travel services provider Qunar said tourism to smaller cities, counties and towns is showing an uptrend, especially among young travelers seeking unique experiences.
“I wish to go to a place without crowds over the holiday. It’s a good time to escape from work and I will let myself be fully immersed in nature,” said Li Miao, 31, from Shanghai, who will spend four days and three nights in Anji — famous for beautiful countryside scenes and well-designed homestays — over the holiday.
Outbound and Inbound Tourism Activity
Travel agencies and tourism experts also placed high hopes on the performance of outbound and inbound tourism activity during the holiday.
| Destination | Booking Volume |
|---|---|
| Overseas destinations | Surge 25% year-on-year over the holiday |
| Popular destinations | Shorter travel times, such as Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore |
| Emerging destinations | Qatar, Austria, and Kazakhstan |
Trip.com said inbound tourism will also enjoy an increase over the holiday thanks to the optimized entry and tax refund policies.
“My husband and I will ask for an extra two days’ leave and have a seven-day break for our trip to Norway,” said Song Haiyan, 34, from Beijing, who will leave for the country on Thursday.
