Central Asia Shines as Chinese Tourists Flock Abroad for Golden Week
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Chinese tourists flocked abroad in droves during the eight-day National Day holiday, filling flights and crowding landmarks from Southeast and Central Asia to remote parts of Russia.
During the holiday period, which began on Oct. 1 and ended on Oct. 8, Chinese and foreign airlines operated an average of more than 2,000 international passenger flights daily, an 11.1% year-on-year increase, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The National Immigration Administration reported more than 16.3 million cross-border trips, a daily average of 2.04 million, up 11.5% from the same period last year. Chinese mainland residents accounted for 9.17 million of those trips, a 9.6% rise.
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- Over the Oct. 1-8 National Day holiday, Chinese and foreign airlines operated 2,000+ international flights daily, with cross-border trips totaling over 16.3 million, up 11.5% year-on-year.
- Flights to destinations like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan surged, with Uzbekistan’s recovery rate at 775% of 2019 and Kazakhstan’s at 254.3%.
- Cheaper fares, longer holidays, and visa-friendly policies led many tourists to new hotspots beyond traditional Southeast Asian destinations.
- Flight Master
- Flight Master (航旅纵横) is a source of aviation data. During the National Day holiday, their data showed that flights between China and Uzbekistan recovered to 775% of 2019's daily average, while flights to Kazakhstan reached 254.3%.
- Tongcheng Travel
- Tongcheng Travel (同程旅行) is an online travel agency. Data from Tongcheng Travel showed significant growth in hotel bookings in Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt during the recent National Day holiday. This indicates a shift in travel trends for Chinese tourists towards these emerging destinations.
- VariFlight
- VariFlight (飞常准) is a data provider mentioned in the article regarding flight information. This company reported that the average price of a one-way international ticket was approximately 1,760 yuan, indicating a 6% decrease from the previous year. This data point contributes to the understanding of travel costs during the National Day holiday.
- Qunar
- Qunar is an online travel agency. According to information provided to Caixin, Qunar reported a slight year-on-year increase in both the volume and price of flights and hotels in popular countries during China's National Day holiday period. This suggests that despite a reported drop in average international ticket prices, demand for travel services through platforms like Qunar remained strong.
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