SHANGHAI — Between 200 million and 265 million trips are expected to take place for China’s May Labor Day holiday, which starts on Saturday, elevating domestic travel rates to above pre-pandemic levels.
As of April 14, hotel bookings had seen a 43 percent rise compared to the same period in 2019, said Trip.com. Air ticket bookings grew by 23 percent and the average price of an economy class air ticket has risen to 1,021 renminbi, or $157, compared to 2019 levels. The upward trend spells good news for the travel and retail industry alike. Just before Chinese New Year, fears of a resurgence in COVID-19 across China set back domestic travel. Arrivals dove 69 percent compared to 2019, according to consultancy ForwardKeys but the Qingming Festival at the start of April saw a marked recovery and Labor Day has again become a significant national holiday. In 2008, it was cut back from a seven-day to a three-day break.
Of those that plan to travel, an analysis shows that the share of group bookings is down from 17 percent in 2019 to 13 percent in 2021. By comparison, the proportion of people traveling solo or in pairs is up to 56 percent, compared to 52 percent in 2019.
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