The Mid-Autumn Festival has become a travel bonanza, with Fliggy, a leading online travel platform, reporting record-breaking bookings for this year’s celebration. This three-day festival has eclipsed other major holidays like the New Year, Qingming, and Dragon Boat Festival in terms of travel demand, solidifying its status as the most popular short holiday for travelers.
According to Fliggy’s Vice President, the surge in bookings reflects a growing preference for personalized and meaningful travel experiences. As the National Day holiday approaches, the company remains committed to providing exceptional travel experiences that cater to both families and individuals, ensuring unforgettable memories for all.
Domestic Travel Flourishes with Short-Distance Trips and Family Reunions
Domestic travel has witnessed a remarkable upswing, with bookings per customer increasing by 5% compared to the Dragon Boat Festival. Short-distance trips, especially those involving high-speed rail and self-driving tours, are on the rise, highlighting the growing desire for flexible itineraries. Domestic car rentals saw a surge of 31%, while four- and five-star hotels, along with boutique homestays, accounted for 60% of total hotel reservations.
Popular destinations included major cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. Emerging destinations like Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and Jingdezhen also experienced an influx of visitors.
Family reunions and cultural tourism emerged as the dominant themes of this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, with nearly half of all trips centered around family outings. Many young adults also traveled home to partake in traditional celebrations.
Cultural experiences like moon and lantern viewing gained immense popularity, with a 61% and 267% increase in searches, respectively. Major events like the Beijing Color Lantern Festival and the Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Moon Viewing Ritual attracted large crowds.
Travel Demographics Shift with Increased Participation of Seniors and White-Collar Workers
Travelers in their 20s and 30s continue to dominate the travel demographic, but the number of seniors taking trips has also seen notable growth. Generation Z travelers made up around 30% of the total, while the proportion of senior citizens and white-collar workers increased by 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively, compared to last year.
Outbound Travel Booms with Japan, Thailand, and South Korea Leading the Way
International travel also witnessed strong growth, with Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States topping the list of popular destinations. Outbound bookings for leisure activities and cruises experienced double-digit growth, and spending per customer on outbound travel remains 20% higher than in 2019 despite fluctuations in flight and hotel prices.
Cost-Effective Travel Opportunities Await as National Day Holiday Approaches
As the Mid-Autumn Festival concludes and the National Day holiday approaches, travelers can anticipate more affordable travel options. For instance, flights from Xi’an to Tianjin are available for under RMB150, with similar low-cost options for other routes emerging in the coming weeks.
