top of page

New data: China's top outbound agencies revealed

michael5923

Fastdata's 2024 China Outbound Travel Industry Development Trend Report has revealed winners and losers in China's outbound tourism digital platforms. In terms of overall market share, Ctrip ranks first with a 48.3% share, followed by Fliggy with 29.6%, and Tongcheng in third place with a 10.9% share. Takeaway giant Meituan has also dipped its toe into the outbound travel business, though their operations are still at early stages. Currently, the Chinese outbound travel market finds itself in a "2+2" competitive pattern, with Ctrip and Fliggy firmly in the first tier, while Tongcheng and Meituan continue to exert efforts in their respective areas of strength. The report shows that social media is an important channel for users to gain travel inspiration, with Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and WeChat ranking as the top three platforms.


13 million people crossed the Chinese border during National Day holidays


According to the National Immigration Administration, during this year's National Day holiday, the national border inspection agencies handled 13 million inbound and outbound passengers, an average of 187,100 per day, a year-on-year increase of 25.8%. The peak single-day entry and exit occurred on October 5, with 2.035 million people crossing the border.


Among the 13 million, 7.589 million mainland residents entered and exited the country, a year-on-year increase of 33.2%; 4.494 million residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan crossed the border, up 13.2% year-on-year; and 1.014 million foreigners entered and exited the country, a year-on-year increase of 37.2%. A total of 574,000 transport vehicles (including planes, ships, trains, and vehicles) were inspected, an increase of 32.6% year-on-year.


Sichuan travel agencies see African route bookings up 20% from last year


Following the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit held in Beijing in early September, the African travel trend has been steadily picking up steam in Sichuan. Data from some Chengdu-based travel agencies show that bookings for African routes during this National Day Golden Week increased by about 20% compared to last year.




Mafengwo releases a report on young people's "affordable travel" trends


More and more Chinese young travelers are searching for affordable travel destinations. From January 1 to now, searches and views related to "affordable travel" on the Mafengwo platform have increased by 33.7% compared to the same period last year, and the amount of related content has grown by 134%. Over 2 million users have shared and discussed their "affordable travel" experiences.


Travel bookings for elderly groups increase by nearly 20% around the Double Ninth Festival


On October 10, Ctrip data showed that in the week following the "National Day" holiday (October 8-14), which coincides with China's Double Ninth Festival, travel bookings for people aged 50 and above increased by nearly 20% year-on-year. The "silver-haired" demographic, who have both time and money, are increasingly influencing and changing the supply of tourism products and services.


Since the beginning of this year, the online travel consumption of this group has grown rapidly, with higher per capita spending on tourism. They are particularly enthusiastic about off-peak and in-depth travel. Ctrip data shows that from January to September this year, travel orders from people aged 50 and above increased by 26% year-on-year, with the fastest growth rate seen in the 61-65 age group, which increased by 58%.



Hainan Airlines to add international routes from Shenzhen to Madrid and Haikou to Seoul in the 2024 winter-spring season


According to Hainan Airlines, starting from October 27, the airline will implement its winter-spring flight schedule. In terms of international routes, Hainan Airlines plans to operate more than 50 outbound and return routes from cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Haikou, Chongqing, Xi'an, Changsha, Taiyuan, Dalian, and Guangzhou, reaching over 30 countries and regions to further meet the demand for inbound and outbound travel. Additionally, Hainan Airlines will add new routes such as Shenzhen to Madrid, Haikou to Seoul, and Beijing to Vladivostok, and increase the frequency of popular international routes such as Haikou to Bangkok/Singapore and Chongqing to Paris.


Sanya to Almaty international route launched


According to Sanya Airport, on October 11, Kazakhstan's Astana Airlines launched a direct international route between Sanya and Almaty. The route is operated with an A321 aircraft, with two flights per week on Tuesdays and Fridays.


Scandinavian Airlines suspends Copenhagen to Shanghai route


Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) recently updated its travel advisory, announcing that due to current market conditions, it will suspend its Copenhagen to Shanghai route. SAS stated that China remains an important market for the airline, and it will closely monitor developments to assess future opportunities to resume business in this important region. The travel advisory shows that the route from Copenhagen to Shanghai will be suspended starting on December 6, 2024. For tickets already purchased, travelers can apply for a refund or change to other routes free of charge.



Direct flights between China and Serbia fueling tourism boom


With the successive launch of direct flights between China and Serbia by Hainan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Air Serbia, there is now one direct flight per day between the two countries. Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Air Serbia’s Belgrade-Guangzhou direct flight on the eve of China’s National Day, noted that the Chinese tourism market in Serbia is rapidly growing. In 2023, Serbia set a new record for inbound tourists, with Chinese tourists ranking fifth. In the first quarter of 2024, the total number of Chinese tourists visiting Serbia increased by 84% compared to the same period last year. According to the Serbian National Tourism Organization, nearly 100,000 Chinese tourists have visited Serbia so far this year, and it is expected that the number of Chinese tourists will surpass the record set in 2019.


China's outbound tourism boosts New Zealand’s tourism industry


In recent years, New Zealand's international tourism business has increasingly benefited from China's holiday economy. During this year’s Chinese National Day Golden Week, New Zealand once again became a popular destination for Chinese tourists. Gregg Wafelbach, General Manager of the Asia Region at Tourism New Zealand, said that New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and unique culture offer a variety of experiences for tourists, and out-of-season travel brings a fresh appeal to Chinese visitors. During the Golden Week, New Zealand’s inbound numbers may surpass those of the same period in 2023. Tourism New Zealand data shows that the number of Chinese tourists arriving in July this year reached 92% of the peak levels seen before the pandemic in 2019, and preliminary data for August also exceeded 90%.

15 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page