Chinese outbound travel is set to strengthen during this year’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, with Russia, Thailand and Australia emerging as key beneficiaries. The nine-day Spring Festival break, running from February 15, is expected to drive a record 9.5 billion passenger trips over the associated 40-day travel period.
Travel agencies report rising interest in overseas destinations, particularly warmer locations. Thailand has regained its position as the leading outbound market, supported by seasonal weather advantages while much of China remains cold. Russia has also seen a marked increase in demand, with bookings on one Shanghai-based platform more than doubling from a year earlier. Marketing specialists attribute Russia’s growth partly to Moscow’s decision in December to waive visas for Chinese visitors.
Long-haul travel is rebounding more broadly. Trip.com Group said visits to Australia have risen by more than 100 per cent compared with the year-earlier period. Aviation intelligence firm IBA reported that international seat capacity, inbound and outbound, has increased 9 per cent year on year during the holiday window. Available seat kilometres on international routes now account for about half of total capacity, underlining the growing role of overseas travel in Spring Festival mobility patterns.
Domestic tourism remains active, with travellers split between tropical destinations such as Hainan and snow-focused areas including Changbai Mountain. However, not all overseas markets are experiencing renewed demand. Political tensions have weighed on travel to Japan, traditionally a leading destination. Flight data show a 49.2 per cent year-on-year decline in China-Japan routes in the week beginning February 2, with 58 routes cancelled compared with last year’s festival period. As consumers increasingly prioritise spending on experiences amid economic uncertainty, shifting destination preferences highlight how policy changes, geopolitical dynamics and airline capacity are reshaping regional travel flows.
