Chinese Outbound Travel During the 2025 Lunar New Year

Intro

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in China. It is a time when millions of Chinese people travel both domestically and internationally to celebrate with family and friends. In recent years, Chinese outbound travel has shown significant growth, with travelers exploring destinations across the globe. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought this trend to a temporary halt. Now, as the world gradually recovers from the pandemic, Chinese outbound tourism is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, especially during the 2025 Lunar New Year.

Key Statistics for 2025 Lunar New Year Outbound Travel

According to data from ForwardKeys, the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday has witnessed a notable increase in outbound travel from China. The eight-day holiday, spanning from January 28 to February 4, has triggered a surge in travel activity, with peak departures observed on January 18 and 25. Many travelers set off early to maximize their festive break. Between January 13 and February 16, outbound travel from China to other Asian countries surged by 48% year-on-year, narrowing the gap with 2019 levels to just 8%. This indicates a strong recovery in regional travel.

Popular Chinese Outbound Travel Destinations

During the 2025 Lunar New Year, several destinations have become particularly popular among Chinese outbound travelers.

Visa-free destinations such as Malaysia, Singapore, and the UAE have outperformed pre-pandemic figures, with respective growth rates of +41%, +26%, and +14% compared to 2019. The weakened Japanese Yen has made Japan a top choice for Chinese tourists, driving a 104% year-on-year increase compared to 2024 and a 20% rise above 2019 levels. Russia has also seen exceptional recovery, with travel from China growing by 30% over 2024 and standing 39% above pre-pandemic levels. This surge is spurred by an increased interest in winter attractions, relaxed visa policies, and greater flight availability.

Long-haul travel to Europe is also on the rise, with France (+35%), the UK (+32%), Spain (+32%), Italy (+24%), and Germany (+20%) all witnessing notable increases compared to 2024. Enhanced flight capacity has made North America more accessible, with seat availability to Canada up by 165% and to the USA by 42% compared to last year, resulting in a significant boost in visitor numbers.

Changing Chinese Outbound Travel Patterns

The 2025 Lunar New Year also highlights significant shifts in travel patterns among Chinese outbound tourists. Solo travel has increased by 8% compared to 2019, while travel by couples has risen by 6%. These trends indicate a growing preference for more personalized and independent travel experiences. In contrast, the popularity of traditional group tours has plummeted, with regional group travel (six or more participants) down by 44% and long-haul group travel by 52% compared to 2019. This suggests a shift away from organized tours in favor of more flexible travel options.

Conclusion

The 2025 Lunar New Year marks a significant milestone in the recovery of Chinese outbound tourism. The surge in travel activity, especially to Asian and European destinations, highlights the strong demand among Chinese travelers to explore the world. As travel restrictions continue to ease and consumer confidence rises, the Chinese outbound tourism market is poised for further growth. If you are an overseas Destination Management Company (DMC) eager to tap into China’s booming outbound tourism and become a key player in this dynamic market, please reach out to World Wander Partners (WWP). WWP, with its expertise in the Chinese Outbound Tourism Industry, can help you develop more tourism products catered to Chinese travelers.

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