Chinese tourists are back, but numbers still far from pre-COVID levels

As consumer demand remains weak, the numbers do not compare well with the heyday of Chinese outbound tourism

Apr 20, 2023

Bookings in China for trips abroad during the upcoming May Day holiday point to a continued recovery in travel to Asian countries, but the numbers remain far off pre-COVID levels with long-haul airfares soaring and not enough flights available.

Key takeaways

  • Thailand is the most popular destination, with the United States the only non-Asian destination in the top 10, to the disappointment of luxury boutiques on the shopping streets of Paris or Milan;
  • Flights to Europe are up to 80% more expensive than before the pandemic, according to ForwardKeys;
  • Prices on flights from mainland China to Southeast Asia have dropped 49% in March from a year ago.

Get the full story at Reuters

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