Chinese outbound tourism soars over May Day 2025
Dida reports 103% Surge in international hotel bookings by Chinese travelers amid renewed global tourism momentum
Dida, a global travel distribution company powered by technology, has released striking booking data for the May Day holiday (1–5 May 2025), highlighting a powerful rebound in international and domestic travel. The findings reflect a surge in outbound travel by Chinese tourists and a significant uptick in inbound tourism to China, signaling a new phase of post-pandemic recovery and renewed enthusiasm for global exploration.
Key takeaways
- Outbound travel surge: International hotel bookings by Chinese travellers rose 103% year-on-year, with average daily rates (ADR) increasing by 5%, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
- Shorter stays: The average length of international hotel stays decreased by 6.4% to 2 days, indicating a shift toward frequent, short-haul trips.
- Top destinations: The most booked destinations for Chinese travellers were Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hong Kong SAR, among others.
- Booking channels: Tailor-made tour operators led with 43% of bookings, followed by retail agencies (34%) and online travel agencies (16%).
- Domestic growth: Domestic hotel bookings in China increased by 33% compared to 2024.
- Inbound boom: International travel into China jumped 306%, driven by more visa-friendly policies and China's rising appeal as a destination.
- Dida’s role: The company attributes its success to a strategically curated network of hotel partnerships and its position at the forefront of global travel distribution.
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