China's travel demand remains robust ahead of the Qingming Festival holiday from April 4 to 6, despite higher ticket prices driven by surging fuel costs.
The Qingming Festival, or the Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens, who engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing.
Data from flight information provider umetrip.com showed that by Sunday, domestic flight bookings for the holiday period had exceeded two million tickets, up about 20 percent from a year earlier, while international bookings reached more than 600,000 tickets, a 12-percent year-on-year increase.
The overlap of student spring breaks in multiple Chinese cities with the Qingming Festival has created an extended travel period from Wednesday to April 6, presenting a significant growth opportunity for the tourism market, according to travel agencies.
Many travelers are taking advantage of a "low-price window" before fuel surcharges rise on April 5.
Popular destinations include Chinese provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Sichuan, highlighting the resilience of China's tourism consumption amid global uncertainties.
China's flight bookings surge ahead of Qingming holiday despite rising airfares
