Tourists visit Harbin's ice sculptures. Photo credit: Shutterstock
Chinese holidaymakers entered 2024 in jet-setting style as New Year’s Day domestic travel bookings more than doubled year-on-year, according to data from Alibaba Group’s travel platform Fliggy.
Lower prices and fading memories of pandemic restrictions meant consumers generally traveled greater distances and were confident enough to book further in advance.
Mid- to long-haul bookings for New Year holidays more than doubled compared with a year earlier, Fliggy’s data showed. Domestic air tickets and travel itineraries were set more than 10 days in advance on average, while international air tickets and independent travel plans were made on average 20 days ahead of departure.
“We are celebrating New Year’s Day in Shanghai this year. We were worried that the later we booked, the more expensive the price would be, so we bought air tickets and made hotel reservations early,” Xiao Hou, who works in Beijing.
The average price of total travel bookings during this New Year’s Day holiday dropped by about 10% year-on-year, with international air tickets falling by about 40%, Fliggy said.
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing were among the most popular domestic travel destinations over the holiday. Bookings for Hong Kong and Macao increased more than three times year-on-year.
High-speed rail travel remained the main mode of transport for inter-city trips and across provinces. Fliggy’s data showed that the number of train ticket bookings during the New Year holiday increased by 132% year-on-year.
Outbound travel got off to a positive start in 2024, with bookings during the New Year holiday tripled compared with a year earlier to destinations such as Japan, Thailand and South Korea.
China eased travel restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus on Jan. 8, 2023.
Starting 2024 With A Bang
Chinese tourists rang in the New Year by watching fireworks or light shows, attending concerts, shopping and gastronomy trips. Holidaymakers also liked to dress in hanfu, traditional Chinese costume worn by the Han Chinese, and visit historical landmarks.
“Wearing hanfu strolling between Luoyang heritage park and the Luoyi ancient city feels great, and the light show is especially beautiful,” said Nanjing-native Xiao Zou on a trip to Luoyang in Henan province for three days with friends.
While many travelers welcomed the new year with fire and light, others opted for chillier offerings.
Trips to outdoor ski resorts nationwide during the New Year’s Day holiday more than doubled year-on-year, according to Fliggy, while ice and snow tour bookings jumped by 126% year-on-year.
Harbin, home of the world’s largest ice and snow festival, was among the most popular destinations for ice and snow tours.
