Chinese tourists are expected to make 2.8 billion trips during the annual Spring Festival which follows the New Year celebrations from 19 February and they are increasingly opting for international destinations, with 60% of Chinese tourists intending to go abroad.
According to China’s Ministry of Transport1, a total of 2.8 billion trips are expected to be made by Chinese people during the Spring Festival travel rush this year, 3.4 percent higher than the previous year. The China Tourism Academy2 estimates that about 60% of Chinese tourists intend to go abroad this year.
Thousands of Chinese travel in groups and Kuoni Group Travel Experts are helping them explore Europe for Spring Festival this year. France is their top destination, followed closely by Italy. Switzerland, Germany and Spain complete the top five most popular destinations for China’s group travellers this year.
GTA, a brand serving fully independent travel (FIT) businesses, reports that Thailand is the number one choice for Chinese tourists heading abroad for Spring Festival this year, helped by pent up demand after a tumultuous year for the destination. Independent travellers are booking closer to home this year with Hong Kong and Singapore following Thailand. Italy is the only European destination to make it into the top five, after Australia.
- 1 Source: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/905839.shtml
- 2 Source for information from China Tourism Academy: http://www.ecns.cn/2015/02-14/154982.shtml
- The China Tourism Academy was established by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) in 2008 as the government and industry ‘think tank’ for promoting the development of the China’s tourism industry
- Conclusions are based on forward bookings with GTA and Kuoni Group Travel Experts departing between 19 and 24 February 2015
