Online travel platform Fliggy has released data revealing key travel trends in China during the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
Fliggy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of technology giant Alibaba Group, said its data showed a significant surge year-on-year average booking volume and per capita spending by domestic tourists during the Dragon Boat Festival in June, indicating a growing demand for immersive and enriching travel experiences.
Other tourism highlights include: China’s major cities – Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Nanjing, Wuhan, and Xi’an – remained top destinations for domestic travelers during the holiday period; Immersive cultural tours exploring China’s rich folklore and heritage saw a significant surge in popularity among domestic travelers; Self-driving tours remained popular, with car rental bookings surging compared with the previous year; and charter services for long-distance trips gained popularity.
According to data from Fliggy, domestic charter car travel saw a significant double-digit growth in transaction volume compared to last year, with charter tours in cultural hotspots like Dunhuang in Northwest China, Tibet, and the Hulunbuir grasslands in Inner Mongolia gaining significant traction.
Outbound tourism remained a popular choice, with nearby destinations such as Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea topping the list of preferred international getaways, the online firm said.
Independent outbound travel dominated bookings, accounting for over 80% of total bookings, reflecting Chinese travelers’ growing preference for spontaneous, personalized trips and leisure activities over rigid itineraries.
Sales of cross-border luxury cruise travel products witnessed strong growth, with international cruise bookings soaring over 14 times compared to the same period last year. Self-driving tours abroad gained momentum, with bookings for international car rental services more than doubled year-on-year, catering to the rising demand for independent and flexible travel experiences.
