Unlocked Chinese Travelers, South Korea Ranks 2nd as Most Desired Destination

Trip.com International Flight Tickets Up 254% MoM
"Easy, Cheap, and Safe"... Singapore Ranks First

As the Chinese government recently eased its COVID-19 quarantine measures completely, attention is focused on where the floodgates will open for Chinese travelers.

According to CNN on the 8th (local time), bookings for outbound flights from China on the global online travel agency Trip.com increased by 254% compared to the end of last month when overseas travel restrictions were announced to be relaxed. According to Trip.com's booking statistics, the most popular travel destination among Chinese travelers was Singapore. South Korea ranked second, followed by Hong Kong, Japan, and Thailand. For long-haul destinations, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia are leading.

The scene at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 arrivals hall on the first day of mandatory registration for the 'Quarantine Information Pre-Entry System' (Q-CODE) for arrivals from China, Hong Kong, and Macau on the 5th ＜Yeongjongdo=Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@＞

Wendy Min, Media and Executive Communications Manager at Trip.com, told CNN, "We are optimistic about the tourism outlook," adding, "The recent announcement by the Chinese government is encouraging, and we expect strong pent-up demand and increased consumer confidence." She explained, "Short-haul flights seem popular due to (lower) prices," and "Singapore, South Korea, and Japan have always been popular among Chinese travelers even before COVID-19."

Trip.com's data is similar to the preferred overseas travel destinations of Chinese people just before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the 2019 report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the country most visited by Chinese travelers was Thailand. The number of visitors was about 11 million, accounting for one-quarter of all arrivals in Thailand. Japan ranked second with 9.5 million visitors, followed by Vietnam (5.8 million), South Korea (5.5 million), and Singapore (3.6 million). Southeast Asia and East Asia dominated the top ranks.

Sienna Perulis-Cook, Marketing and Communications Manager at global marketing firm Dragon Trail, said, "Destinations that were popular before the pandemic will regain popularity once China reopens its borders," adding, "We expect travel in Southeast Asia and East Asia to recover first." She explained, "These countries are closest to China, have had the most restored flight connections so far, and will appear safe and easy for the first overseas trips after COVID-19."

On the 8th (local time), a man is standing looking out the window at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China.

Demand for overseas travel by Chinese people is expected to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels by the end of this year. The China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI) predicts that by the third quarter, demand for overseas travel by Chinese, including Hong Kong and Macau, will surge to 115 million trips by the end of this year. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, Director of COTRI, explained that it makes sense for regional travel to recover first because it is easier and cheaper.

However, he forecasted that the first quarter of this year will be entirely for business trips, family reunions, studying abroad, and medical reasons. From the second quarter, passport and visa approval procedures are expected to proceed smoothly, and flights will be fully resumed, leading to a revival of leisure travel. Arlt stated, "The Chinese government has spent three years making its citizens fearful of the outside world," adding, "Some people will still be anxious about whether overseas travel is safe."