Home » TRAVEL EVENT NEWS » Surge in Chinese Outbound Travel for Golden Week 2025: Record Bookings and Growth in Popular Destinations Published on
September 29, 2025During the preparation of the Golden Week Holiday 2025, there was a spike in outbound tourism activity. This year’s holiday, running from October 1 to 8, is a concept that grants the public a whole week of celebrations packed with activities, with a particular focus on the Mid-Autumn Festival on October 6, which has, in turn, increased the appetite of a significant number of people to travel. As reported by China Daily, bookings peaked during this period, surpassing the 130 per cent year-over-year mark, which is revolutionary from the standpoint of international travel.The extended nature of the holiday, including the make-up working days on September 28 and October 11, has added to the appeal of long-haul travel, with many Chinese travellers opting for destinations outside of Asia. Hotel bookings have been strong across the world, particularly in top destinations such as Japan, Thailand, South Korea, and Malaysia. The report from Qunar, a leading online travel agency based in Beijing, noted that over 2,800 hotels globally have been booked in anticipation of the Golden Week holiday, indicating a shift towards early travel planning.Advertisement Rising Popularity of Southeast Asia and New DestinationsAmong the countries attracting the most attention are Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam, which have long been favourites of Chinese tourists. However, a noticeable shift is occurring, with Egypt, Uzbekistan, and Sweden seeing impressive growth rates in hotel bookings. This trend signals a growing interest in more exotic destinations and regions that were once less frequented by Chinese travellers.Countries that have introduced visa-free policies for Chinese travellers have also seen an uptick in bookings. Southeast Asia, in particular, continues to be a key draw, with Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand standing out as popular choices due to their reciprocal visa-free policies with China. Additionally, South Korea and Russia have now extended visa-free entry for group tours, making travel more accessible and enticing for Chinese nationals during this high-demand travel period.Africa and the Belt and Road I …
