- DidaTravel announces the return of Chinese tourists during the May Day holidays[1], with international hotel bookings increasing 30-fold YOY and surpassing pre-pandemic, 2019 volumes by 18%.
- ADR (Average Daily Rate) has also increased by 47% YOY for Chinese hotel reservations, reaching 95% of their 2019 level comparing the same period.
- Thailand retains its position as the number one international destination for Chinese travelers, followed by Malaysia, USA, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, UAE, Singapore, Vietnam and Australia in order of popularity.
- As the No.1 B2B accommodation wholesaler in China, DidaTravel’s booking data acts a reliable proxy to the wider trends in the Chinese travel industry.
Shenzhen China, DidaTravel – a tech-driven global travel distribution company – is pleased to announce the return of Chinese tourists during the May Day holidays. With Chinese travel restrictions easing and vaccinations becoming more widely available, Chinese travelers are eager to explore the world once again.
Bookings in China for trips abroad continue to recover fast. According to recent data Chinese travelers’ international hotel bookings for the upcoming May Day holiday, for which many people in China take 5 days off from April 29 until May 3, have increased 30-fold YOY, surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 volumes by 18%. The ADR for Chinese international hotel bookings has also increased by 47% YOY, reaching 95% of their 2019 level. Moreover, the international average length of a hotel stay is about 2 room nights during the May Day holiday, in line with pre-pandemic data.
As of April 20th, the Top 20 most booked international destinations for Chinese tourists during the May Day holidays have been Thailand, Malaysia, USA, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, UAE, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, UK, South Korea, Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, Canada, Germany, Brazil, and the Netherlands. These diverse destinations offer a wide range of attractions and experiences, from beautiful beaches and natural wonders to cultural landmarks and world-class shopping. The significant growth in the Chinese outbound tourism sector during the May Day holidays will be a significant driver of recovery for the wider catering, hospitality, aviation and logistics sectors.
Rikin Wu, DidaTravel’s CEO and Founder comments: “We are delighted to see the return of Chinese outbound travel during the May Day holidays. It is testament to the pent-up demand for international travel that exists in China, and we are honored to be playing our role in responding to the needs of the Chinese source market. Our company is dedicated to providing safe, affordable, and enjoyable travel experiences for Chinese travelers. We look forward to working closely with our partners worldwide and getting ready to welcome ever more Chinese travelers in the coming months and years.”
*All figures quoted in this press release are based on DidaTravel accommodation booking data for the 2023 Chinese May Day holiday period.
About DidaTravel
DidaTravel is a tech-driven global travel distribution company that was founded in 2012. The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China and has over 400 employees in eight offices globally.
The company works with over 30,000 travel buying clients around the world, including travel agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, OTAs, travel management companies (TMCs), and airlines. Additionally, the company has a portfolio of over 60k competitively sourced direct hotel contracts, as well as 700k hotel products provided by 600+ global suppliers, covering more than 200 countries/regions.
Prior to the pandemic, in 2019 DidaTravel sold hotel bookings in the China & APAC region worth over $700 million.
[1] The 1st May is Labor Day, a Chinese public holiday. It is a peak time for travel with Chinese people taking 5 days of holiday on average, commonly referred to as the May Day holidays.
[2] Based on DidaTravel booking data for the 2023 Chinese May Day Holiday period
