As the world welcomed the New Year, a festive surge in global tourism set the stage for China’s remarkable economic vibrancy. The Christmas and New Year holiday period ignited an unprecedented travel rush, positioning China as a top destination for international travelers eager to explore its rich heritage, modern marvels, and stunning landscapes.
China's attractiveness was further enhanced by the country’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, making it easier than ever for visitors to experience its diverse offerings. This influx of tourists not only boosted the hospitality sector but also contributed significantly to broader economic development.
On the domestic front, Chinese residents were equally enthusiastic about travel, with outbound trips showing explosive growth. According to the National Immigration Administration, during the 2025 New Year's holiday, China's border inspection agencies facilitated 1.803 million inbound and outbound trips, marking a 13.7 percent increase compared to the previous year. This surge included 869,000 trips by Chinese mainland residents (up 11.1 percent), 749,000 by Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents (up 12.8 percent), and 185,000 by foreign nationals (up 33.6 percent).
The trend of extending New Year's Day into mini vacations by combining it with annual leave or additional days off played a significant role in this travel boom. Data from Fliggy, an online travel platform, revealed a over 40 percent increase in high-end hotel bookings around the New Year holiday compared to last year.
Popular domestic destinations included bustling cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, as well as culturally rich locales such as Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi'an. For outbound travel, top destinations were Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea, the United States, Australia, Vietnam, France, and Singapore.
Fliggy's report also highlighted a growing interest in \"snow and ice tourism\" in regions like Heilongjiang, Jilin, Xinjiang, and Hebei. Cities such as Chengdu, Wuhan, Shaoxing, and Wuxi saw a surge in ticket sales for indoor snow and ice attractions, with activities like skiing and hot springs gaining widespread appeal. Meanwhile, southern regions like Hainan, Guangxi, and Guangdong experienced a rise in bookings for \"winter escape\" trips, featuring activities such as surfing, night fishing, and scuba diving.
Outbound tourism continued its robust growth from 2023, with Fliggy's data showing that by the early hours of January 1, 2025, outbound bookings had increased by nearly 70 percent year on year. International car rental bookings also rose by over 70 percent, with the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia being the most popular destinations for car rentals.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
