Chinese tourists head to Russia, Thailand on extended Chinese New Year break
More Chinese tourists are expected to travel overseas during this year's nine-day Spring Festival holiday starting on Feb 15, one day longer than usual, as they usher in the Year of the Horse.
Tourists queue at the check-in counters at Beijing Capital International Airport as the Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays, in Beijing, China on Feb 13, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Hu Chushi)
BEIJING: More Chinese tourists are expected to travel overseas during next week's extra-long Chinese New Year break, with top destinations ranging from Russia and Australia to Thailand and South Korea, travel agencies say, but Japan has lost some sheen.
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is one of China's longest holidays, running for nine days this year from Feb 15, or a day longer than usual, to usher in the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac.
Millions traditionally head home for family reunions during this time, boosting spending in shops, cinemas and restaurants as families nationwide and overseas celebrate together.
RECORD TRIPS EXPECTED OVER 40-DAY TRAVEL RUSH
China expects a record 9.5 billion passenger trips during the accompanying 40‑day travel rush, up from 9.02 billion last year, as officials hope this year's longer event spurs more holidaymakers to make domestic visits or venture abroad.
"Thailand has returned to being the top outbound destination thanks to its weather, when most parts of China remain cold," said Zhou Weihong of Shanghai‑based Spring Tour, the travel unit of budget carrier Spring Airlines.
Amid an uncertain economic outlook, many appear to be hoping to leave their troubles behind, however briefly. A prolonged property downturn has eroded household wealth, while uneven growth after the COVID-19 pandemic has fuelled job insecurity.
Studies show Chinese consumers are prioritising spending on experiences, with consultants McKinsey's saying in an August market update, "Consumers appear to have quietly moved on ... highlighting deeper shifts in how China consumes."
Domestic leisure demand this year is also split between warm and snowy destinations, with trips to the tropical island of Hainan and northeastern Changbai Mountain popular, added Zhou, a deputy general manager at Spring Tour.
Bookings to Russia on its platform have more than doubled from last year, as have trips to northern Europe.
"For the rest of the year, we'll probably see increased Chinese travel to Russia," said Sienna Parulis‑Cook, marketing and communications director of Dragon Trail Research.
She attributed its popularity, rising off a low base, to Moscow’s December move to waive visas for visitors from China.
REBOUND DRIVES UP NUMBERS VISITING AUSTRALIA
China’s largest travel booking site, Trip.com Group, said a rebound in long‑haul travel has driven up visitors to Australia by more than 100 per cent over the year-earlier period.
Seat capacity on international flights during the holiday period, both inbound and outbound, has risen 9 per cent on the year, aviation intelligence firm IBA said.
"The international market is playing an increasingly important role in Spring Festival travel," it said in a report ahead of the break, adding that available seat kilometres on international flights now make up about half of total capacity.
But for other destinations, the picture is not all rosy.
Simmering political tension with Japan has eroded its appeal for Chinese visitors, who normally made it a top choice.
Flight data for 2026 shows travel to Japan has dropped sharply amid the strained ties and China's safety warnings to its travellers, prompting airlines to broaden refund and change policies for Japan routes.
In the week starting on Feb 2, flights between China and Japan were down 49.2 per cent from a year earlier, said travel data provider Flight Master.
And all flights have been cancelled on 58 routes that operated during last year's Spring Festival, when Trip.com ranked Japan among the most popular overseas destinations, alongside Thailand and other regional markets.
CAMPAIGN TO BOOST CONSUMER SPENDING
China is also launching a nationwide campaign to boost consumer spending during the Chinese New Year holidays, state-affiliated outlet China Daily reported on Thursday.
The campaign includes consumer goods trade-ins, a pilot programme where consumers with valid purchase invoices above a set amount can enter a lottery to win cash prizes, as well as enhanced services for overseas tourists.
"This Sunday marks the start of the longest Spring Festival holiday on record - a prime time for purchasing gifts, visiting family and friends, and holiday travel," Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping told a news conference on Wednesday.
Sheng added that China's tax-refund programme also offered foreign visitors shopping in the country a discount of about 10 per cent on their purchases.
Last year, the number of overseas visitors claiming tax refunds surged by 305 per cent year-on-year, data from the State Taxation Administration showed.
A total of 2.05 billion yuan (US$297 million) has been allocated by local governments for direct consumer benefits, via vouchers, subsidies and digital red packets, Sheng said.
