China's May Day travel rush sees surge in domestic and cross-border tourism

China is bracing for a major surge in travel during this year's May Day holiday (from May 1 to May 5), with cross-regional trips expected to reach approximately 1.42 billion, a 4.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, China Media Group has learned from the Ministry of Transport.

Outbound and inbound tourism are both seeing robust growth. According to the National Immigration Administration, the country's border checkpoints are projected to handle an average of 2.15 million entries and exits per day during the holiday, up 27 percent year-on-year.

At Hangzhou's immigration checkpoints alone, cross-border passenger traffic is expected to reach 97,600, with foreign nationals making up a growing share. More than 21,500 international travelers are expected to pass through the checkpoints, a 51 percent increase from 2024. Among them, 16,500 are inbound tourists, up 47 percent year-on-year.

Experts attribute the rise in inbound travel to China's expanded visa-free policies. Writing for The Diplomat, Vincent Chow noted that relaxed entry rules have played a key role in attracting foreign visitors back to China.

The positive trend also reflects growing optimism in the tourism sector. A report by Morgan Stanley forecasts that China could more than triple its global tourism revenue to over $500 billion annually by 2033, up from $131 billion in 2019. Inbound tourism could contribute up to 4 percent of China's economy within the next decade, up from just under 1 percent.

Domestic travel is also booming. China's railway system is adding thousands of additional trains to cater to demand, while highway traffic is projected to increase 8.1 percent year-on-year over the 8-day travel period ( from April 29 to May 6), according to data from the Ministry of Transport. Even the waterway passenger volume is estimated to increase 11.41 percent compared to last year.

The dual uptick in both outbound and inbound travel highlights the continued recovery and evolving dynamics of China's post-COVID-19 pandemic mobility, as leisure demand remains strong and the country works to cement its position as a global tourism hub.