Tourexpi
Already,
the Group is witnessing hotel bookings peak in arrivals on October 1st –
the day the holiday commences - with the average length of stays over seven
days, as workers can enjoy a 10-day break by taking just two days off. Total
booking growth for stays has also grown year-on-year.
High-Quality,
Mid-Tier Stays Thrive
When
it comes to travel costs, the top outbound destinations (Japan, Thailand, South
Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia,
the UK, and the USA) have all seen a significant drop in average air
ticket prices (including taxes). Travellers increasingly seek high-quality,
mid-tier accommodation types. However, in Europe, year-on-year growth of
5-star hotel bookings was almost three times higher than in Asia-Pacific.
Long-Haul
Destinations on the Rise, Visa Applications Surge
A
significant shift towards long-haul destinations can be seen this year,
with Australia, the United States, New Zealand, the United
Kingdom, France, and Spain topping the list of most sought-after
long-haul destinations by Chinese travellers. Long-haul flights have seen an
increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
European
destinations like the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and Italy are
seeing significantly longer stays, surpassing 10 to 14 days.
Interestingly,
in Europe, more than 30% choose multi-destination itineraries, reflecting
a growing trend to maximise long-haul travel. Meanwhile, in Asia Pacific,
nearly 80% of Chinese travellers opt for single-destination trips.
Additionally,
travellers plan further in advance, with visa applications submitted an average
of 68 days before the holiday—29 days earlier than last year. The top countries
for National Day visa applications include Japan, South Korea, Australia, the
United States, Vietnam, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France,
and Spain.
Lesser
Known Destinations Spark Travel Flows in Europe and Asia
With
overtourism as one of the challenges for key destinations around the world,
Chinese travellers have increasingly been drawn to quieter, off-the-beaten-path
locations this Golden Week. This is so particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Europe regions.
Japanese
cities off the main circuit of Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto, like Yokohama,
Takayama and Ito, showed three-digit booking growth, underscoring this trend.
Additionally, nature and wellness tourism saw a rise, with Phu Quoc Islands
in Vietnam and the hot spring town of Higashiizu in Japan becoming
popular for their scenic landscapes and wellness experiences.
European
destinations such as Granada and Seville also captured significant
attention, with a 260% and 144% rise in bookings, respectively, reflecting a
desire for greater cultural and historical immersion beyond key capitals.
Concerts
and Live Entertainment Fuel Tourism Charge
Live
entertainment is playing a pivotal role in travel trends this season, with key
concerts and events in the Asia-Pacific region happening during the
October holiday. Moreover, over 75% of tourists visiting the APAC region are
millennials, who have shown strong interest in events and concerts.
Around
the holiday period, popular K-pop artists such as Taemin and Taeyang will
captivate audiences in Hong Kong, alongside international acts such
as John Legend and Ne-Yo. In Bangkok, girl group Aespa is a draw, while
in South Korea, Busan's Festival Shiwol blends entertainment, culture, and
business in a massive event expected to draw 450,000 visitors.
In Singapore,
hotels within 3km of concert venues have experienced a 214% increase in unique
views compared to those farther away, as tourists seek proximity to venues such
as Singapore Indoor Stadium, Gateway Theatre, and Capitol Theatre, where major
concerts are scheduled.
Cross-border
Surge in Inbound Tourism
The
growth rate of inbound tourism has also been encouraging, with an increase in
bookings. 9 out of 10 of the top outbound destinations were also the top
inbound source markets, highlighting the two-way nature between outbound and
inbound tourism for China.
This
year, Thailand and Singapore, both offering mutual visa
exemptions with China, ranked third and fifth respectively in inbound
tourism.
Overlapping
in part with Golden Week, Trip.com has also launched two tour routes for
its Shanghai Express free layover tours initiative,
enriching the travel experience for international passengers with transits of
over 8 hours in Shanghai. It has launched a limited-time "Art &
Culture Immersion Tour" from September 23 to October 6, an engaging
journey through Shanghai's cultural landmarks, including the Shanghai
World Expo Museum, the Dunhuang exhibition in the China Art Museum and
"Old Shanghai" Alley 1192. It has also upgraded the "Local
Lifestyle City Walk Tour" with stops such as Wukang Road and Wuzhong Market.
Since its launch earlier this year, the initiative has successfully served over
3,000 tourists. Find out more about Shanghai Express tours.
Image Credit: © Trip.com
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