The Spring Festival of 2024 unfurled a new chapter in China’s domestic and international travel saga, showcasing a vibrant tapestry of cultural celebration and economic vitality. As families across the nation embarked on journeys to reunite with loved ones or explore new destinations, a record-breaking surge in travel and spending painted a vivid picture of a society in motion. With popular destinations like Beijing, Xi’an, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area at the forefront, and an unprecedented wave of outbound tourism to Southeast Asian countries, the festival period emerged as a potent symbol of China’s thriving tourism industry and its broader economic aspirations.
A New Horizon in Domestic Travel
The festival’s eight-day span, potentially extended to nine with flexible leave policies, saw domestic travel reach new heights. An estimated 2.311 billion passenger trips were made, with the vast majority…