Chinese travellers fuel global hotel bookings: DidaTravel reveals 2024 golden week trends

Japan becomes the number one international destination for Chinese travellers

Global travel distribution company DidaTravel has shared key hotel booking trends from China’s Golden Week holiday period.

China’s outbound travel continues its rapid recovery, with hotel bookings for trips abroad showing impressive growth. According to DidaTravel’s latest data, during the Golden Week holiday, when many Chinese travelers take a seven-day break from October 1 to October 7, hotel bookings surged across various regions compared to last year: up by 190% in the Americas, 78% in Europe, 77% in Asia-Pacific, and 106% in the Middle East.

The average hotel stay duration for international travelers remained stable at around two nights, consistent with pre-pandemic trends. While Average Daily Rates (ADR) showed a slight increase in the Middle East, they were marginally lower in other regions compared to last year.

As of October 8, the top 20 most popular international destinations for Chinese travelers during the Golden Week holiday were Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, the United States, Italy, Vietnam, the UAE, the UK, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Turkey, Iceland, the Philippines, and New Zealand. 

Among international cities, the most booked destinations were Bangkok, Tokyo, Singapore, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Pattaya, Kyoto, Kota Kinabalu, Jeju, Karon, Dubai, Paris, Patong, Phuket, Abu Dhabi, Chiang Mai, Rome, Milan, and London. 

For domestic travel, top destinations included Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Macau. These destinations provide a wide variety of experiences, ranging from breathtaking natural lanscapes to vibrant cultural heritage, world-class events, gourmet dining, and exceptional shopping.

Stone Fan, president of DidaTravel, said: "The evolving preferences of Chinese travelers signal a new era for the global travel industry. At DidaTravel, we not only prepared for the resurgence of outbound tourism but are also helping to shape it. 

"By leveraging our insights and technology, our commitment remains steadfast in redefining how the world connects with Chinese travelers, creating seamless, enriching journeys that reflect their growing desire for exploration and discovery."

*All data in this release is based on DidaTravel’s accommodation booking data for the 2024 Chinese Golden Week holiday period, a peak travel season when most Chinese people enjoy an average of seven days off.