What: Chinese tourists start to travel abroad in increasing numbers.

Why it is important: In spite of the length of visa processing and the scarce number of flights, many European operators expect Chinese tourists to come back in numbers within the summer 2023. It will be interesting to see if this is the case, or if S.E. Asia remains more attractive for now.

China's outbound tourism has surged during the May Day holiday, with mainland outbound travel bookings for the holiday multiplying by 18 times YoY, according to data from Chinese travel agency Trip.com Group.

The outbound group travel market was suspended in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in February 2021. Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia were the top travel destinations, and businesses abroad have warmly welcomed Chinese tourists as significant contributors to the international travel market.

The growth of outbound tourism also drives the recovery of the airline industry, and Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy, expects a sustained and accelerated recovery throughout 2023.

China’s outbound tourism booms during May Day holiday