Chart of the Day: China's May Day Travel Surges to Record Highs

China's tourism sector is experiencing remarkable growth during the May Day holiday period, as vibrant travel activity underscores the country’s post-pandemic recovery and growing consumer confidence. The combination of favorable weather, cultural festivities, and an aggressive expansion of summer-autumn flight routes has resulted in unprecedented levels of passenger mobility across China.

Between May 1 and May 5, nationwide data shows that cross-regional passenger trips surged to 1.467 billion, averaging an impressive 293 million trips each day. This represents an eight percent increase compared to figures from the previous year, highlighting both the resilience and enthusiasm of Chinese travelers. Popular destinations have seen packed tourist attractions, train stations, and airports, giving a significant boost to local economies and the broader service sector.

A crucial driver behind this surge is the expansion of China’s civil aviation network. The country has undertaken extensive efforts to enhance its domestic and international connectivity, with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) confirming the rollout of numerous new international routes for the 2025 summer-autumn season. Covering the period from March 30 to October 25, these routes are part of a strategic plan to meet the growing appetite for cross-border travel among Chinese citizens and international visitors alike.

The addition of new flights linking major Chinese cities with key destinations in Asia, Europe, and North America is expected to further accelerate the recovery of global tourism flows. Airlines are reporting high booking volumes, while tourism operators are introducing tailored packages to encourage travel to emerging hotspots. This flurry of activity comes at a time when global aviation is still rebounding from previous disruptions, placing China at the forefront of the sector’s revitalization.

As China continues to strengthen its position as a major player in the international tourism industry, the momentum generated during the May Day holiday is widely viewed as a positive sign for the coming months. Travel authorities and industry stakeholders will be closely monitoring trends throughout the summer-autumn period, anticipating that continued growth in passenger numbers will translate into sustained economic benefits nationwide.