The Spring Festival holiday in China witnessed a surge in tourism, with cultural and museum venues, urban parks, and ski resorts experiencing large passenger flows. According to CCTV news, the expansion of the “visa-free circle of friends” and the ultra-long holiday led to a significant increase in inbound and outbound passenger flow during the holiday period.
Big data analysis revealed that during the Spring Festival holiday, inter-provincial tourists accounted for 55%, intra-provincial tourists accounted for 41%, and outbound tourists accounted for 4%. Short-distance trips within 200 kilometers accounted for 33%, medium-distance trips between 200 and 500 kilometers accounted for 31%, and long-distance trips over 500 kilometers accounted for 36%. The number of people traveling for 3 days or more accounted for the highest proportion, reaching 58%. The number of inbound and outbound tourists across the country increased by 88% compared with the same period last year.
The popularity of ice and snow tourism also saw a significant rise, with large ski resorts experiencing a 13% increase in passenger flow compared to the previous year. Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou, and Guangzhou emerged as the top five popular destinations for skiing, attracting a total of nearly 3.8 million visitors.
Cultural tourism also thrived during the holiday, with Nanjing Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Belt and Hangzhou West Lake emerging as the most popular spots. Additionally, museum tours became a new trend, with the Palace Museum, Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, and the National Museum of China being among the most popular destinations.
Local parks played a pivotal role in attracting tourists, with activities such as cultural performances, spring flower exhibitions, and other recreational events drawing in large crowds. In Beijing, municipal parks received over 4 million tourists, marking a 141.32% year-on-year increase.
The ultra-long holiday and the expansion of the “visa-free circle of friends” also ignited a tourism craze, causing inbound and outbound passenger flow to increase severalfold. Shanghai Airport reported a new high in daily inbound and outbound passenger flow, with an average of 92,000 passengers per day in the six days leading up to the Spring Festival holiday. Similarly, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport saw a 3.9 times year-on-year increase in inbound and outbound passengers, while Chengdu aviation port experienced a 5.7 times year-on-year increase.
The “visa-free circle of friends” played a crucial role in boosting outbound travel during the Spring Festival, with China exempting visas from 23 countries and reaching agreements with numerous others to simplify visa procedures. With more than 60 countries and regions providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival facilities for Chinese citizens, traveling has become more accessible for Chinese tourists.