May Day consumption hotspots: Spring break sparks surge in parent-child travel

Combined with the spring break, this year's May Day holiday is expected to greatly fuel tourists' enthusiasm for travel and further unleash consumption momentum.

Amid nationwide efforts to stimulate the economy, many regions on the Chinese mainland piloted spring and fall breaks this year, giving primary and secondary school students two to three days off each season. Some cities combine the spring break with the five-day May Day holiday from May 1 to 5, and by taking a few extra days off, students can get a vacation of around 10 days.

According to data from Qunar, a leading Chinese travel platform, the country is witnessing a travel peak from April 24 to May 10, lasting a total of 17 days. The volume of bookings for domestic hotels, flights and scenic spots during the two weekends surrounding May Day has surged by over 20% compared to the same period last year.

Surge in travel bookings across multiple regions

Data from Tuniu, an online travel agency, reveals that in cities implementing spring breaks, the number of travel bookings from source destinations like east China's Lishui and Huzhou cities has more than tripled year on year. Travel bookings from other source cities such as east China's Quzhou and Yantai cities have more than doubled, while bookings from east China's Zhoushan City, central China's Yueyang City and other destinations have surged by over 100%.

This surge in travel is expected to result in a record-breaking spike in domestic tourism. According to China's Ministry of Transport, cross-regional passenger trips are projected to reach a staggering 1.52 billion during the upcoming five-day May Day holiday.

Along with the surge in travel, consumption power is also showing remarkable growth. Data from Tongcheng Travel indicates that the proportion of cross-provincial hotel bookings during the May Day holiday has risen by 15 percentage points compared to last year. Additionally, tourists are staying longer, with the average length of stay increasing by 1 to 2 days.

Family travel on the rise

The long-haul domestic flight market is also seeing a notable shift. Cheng Chaogong, chief researcher at Tongcheng Research Institute, shared that the proportion of bookings for flights covering domestic routes of over 800 kilometers and 1,200 kilometers has significantly increased during the May Day holiday. Additionally, family travel is seeing a sharp rise, with the number of family travelers up by 13%.

Fliggy, another major travel platform, reports significant growth in bookings for long-distance destinations such as Yunnan, Xinjiang and Xizang, highlighting the increasing popularity of these regions among holidaymakers.

Shen Yanyu, operations manager at Fliggy, noted that family travelers are increasingly drawn to historical landmarks, family-friendly theme parks and museum visits. According to Shen, ticket bookings for popular theme parks and former celebrity residences have seen a 50% increase compared to last year.

Niu Ziyu, a primary school student from Hangzhou in eastern China, is enjoying his holiday with his mother in Hunan Province, where they are visiting the hometown of the late Chairman Mao Zedong. Niu hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the founding father of the People's Republic of China.

Meanwhile, Hu Qingran, a student from Beijing, is looking forward to experiencing the world's first interactive panda experience-themed museum in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This unique attraction is drawing families eager to learn more about China's beloved national symbol.