The New Chinese Traveler: Where They’re Going, How Much They’re Spending

China’s outbound travel market remains in recovery mode post-Covid, with an expected 130 million trips in 2024. It’s a big number, but still short of the pre-pandemic peak of 155 million trips. By 2028, the market is projected to surge to 200 million trips, according to a China Trading Desk report releasing on Wednesday, and first reported by Skift.

Economic factors, health and safety concerns, and government travel restrictions continue to influence travel decisions. An earlier Dragon Trail survey had also highlighted that cost of travel has become the primary barrier to selling outbound travel.

And those traveling are reshaping global tourism with evolving preferences, as noted in China Trading Desk’s survey. 

Some of the key insights include: 

Regional destinations like Singapore, Japan, and South Korea remain highly favored,. Spontaneity has emerged as a defining trend, with 74% of travelers booking trips less than a month in advance.  Most travelers prioritize booking flights first, while around one-fifth prefer to secure accommodations first. 

“Businesses must offer last-minute deals, user-friendly cancellation policies, and dynamic pricing can encourage bookings and boost traveler confidence,” Subramania Bha