The daily average of international trips reached 2.26 million during the long holiday period, from April 4 to 6, an increase of 9.1% compared to the same period last year, according to the National Immigration Administration. Foreigners made 843 thousand inbound and outbound trips, an increase of 20.9% compared to the previous year, with visa-free entries rising 30.7%, to 319 thousand. The dynamics of international travel have also changed, with Southeast Asia maintaining its dominance, while Japan, traditionally a favorite destination, has dropped out of the top three list.
Evolving travel patterns demonstrate how Beijing’s push to expand visa-free entry is revitalizing its inbound tourism sector, even as regional geopolitical tensions and security concerns reshape Chinese tourists’ travel itineraries.
Change in exit preferences
During the wider travel period, which encompasses the holiday and spring school holidays, from April 1 to 2ª fair, South Korea emerged as the most popular international destination for Chinese travelers, according to aviation data provider Flight Master, with a 12.4% increase in flights between China and South Korea year-on-year to 980.
One traveler told Caixin that his trip was motivated by a combination of the region’s cherry blossom season and a concert by South Korean boy band BTS, which was taking place in Seoul on the 5th.ª fair.
In contrast, flights between China and Japan plummeted by more than 50%, to 520, during the same 6-day period. This drop followed warnings from the Chinese government about travel to Japan and accompanied a broader regional reduction, with a 23.3% drop in flights to East Asia compared with the previous year, according to Flight Master.
A recent report from the Japan National Tourism Organization showed that the number of Chinese tourists entering Japan in the first two months of 2026 fell 54.1% from the previous year to 781,700. Flights to the Middle East also decreased by 36.7%, affected by factors such as the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, according to Flight Master.
Despite regional declines, the international aviation market generally remained stable. Data from VariFlight showed that 13,000 passenger flights between mainland China and international destinations operated from April 1 to 6, an increase of 2% year-on-year. The average one-way ticket price for these routes rose 20 percent to about 1,670 yuan ($244).
A 3-4 hour flight radius remained the top choice for travelers, with South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia recording the highest ticket volumes, according to online travel agency Qunar.com Inc. Flight volume between China and Malaysia increased 29.4% year-on-year. Meanwhile, Fliggy reported exponential growth for long-haul destinations such as Tanzania, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Fiji and Sri Lanka.
Increase in tourists arriving without visas
Regarding inbound tourism, the traditional practice of returning home to honor ancestors during the Qingming Festival has driven a significant flow of tourists from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Border authorities recorded 3.3 million cross-border trips by residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, an increase of 19.5% from last year. Flight bookings from Hong Kong to mainland China nearly quadrupled, and hotel bookings increased 8-fold, according to Tongcheng Travel Holdings Ltd’s HopeGoo platform. The country’s southern province of Guangdong was the most popular destination for these travelers, accounting for nearly 30% of total bookings on online travel platform Trip.com.
Trip.com data showed that total international travel requests nearly doubled during the holiday. The government’s visa-free policy continued to be an important catalyst, with 15 of the top 20 countries of origin enjoying visa-free access. The volume of applications from these visa-exempt countries grew almost 3 times faster than that of non-exempt countries, while their ticket bookings for entertainment and attractions increased more than seven times.
Long-distance travel from Europe has also increased. Travel requests from Spain doubled, reflecting the warming of bilateral relations. Compared to 2025, spending by travelers from Russia and Spain has increased by more than 150%, while spending by visitors from Italy and the Netherlands has increased by between 80% and 150%, according to Trip.com.
Cultural heritage sites were the main attraction for these Western tourists. Data from Trip.com revealed that tickets to cultural sites accounted for 50% to 60% of all attraction purchases made by visitors from Italy, the US and Spain. The most popular tourist spots included the Palace Museum, Emperor Qinshihuang Mausoleum Site Museum, Mutianyu Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, and Mogao Grottoes.
