Increasing number of Chinese travelers planning to visit European countries such as France and Iceland in 2024

Chinese travelers are once again eager to explore the world, as evidenced by the results of a recent survey by Dragon Trail Research. This research highlights a significant increase in outbound travel intentions compared to the same period last year.

Chinese travelers are increasingly interested in going abroad, with nearly 40 percent planning to visit places outside Asia by 2024. Europe is their top choice for long-haul destinations, especially France and Iceland, VisaGuide.World reports.

South Korea, Thailand, Japan and Singapore are among the top choices for Chinese travelers in Asia. Iceland’s popularity, despite its distance, can be attributed to its breathtaking natural attractions such as the Northern Lights and volcanoes, which have gained significant fame on social media and reality TV.

Spring 2024 saw a noticeable shift in Chinese consumers’ outlook, with 63 percent of survey respondents having embarked on or actively planning an outbound trip in 2024 – a marked increase from 2023.

In April 2023, about 75 percent of our survey respondents said they planned to travel within Asia for the rest of the year. A year later that share dropped to 60 percent. Europe is more popular than ever, chosen by 26.7 percent, while all other long-haul regions made modest gains.

Only 10% of Chinese are against traveling abroad in 2024

According to the survey, more people are keen to travel abroad, evidenced by fewer people saying they don’t want to go. Only ten percent of survey participants are against traveling abroad this year, a significant change from last year, when 31 percent and 20 percent felt this way in April and August respectively.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, China’s outbound tourism market has shown remarkable resilience. As the country gradually reopens its borders, the market is expected to reach around 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 130 million trips by 2024.

Visa relaxation led to an increase in the number of Chinese tourists

The relaxation of visa requirements has also attracted many Chinese tourists to certain destinations. Countries that simplified the visa process for Chinese travelers in 2023 saw a noticeable increase in visitors. For example, there was a 115 percent increase in travel from China to Kazakhstan, an 18 percent increase in visits to Singapore, and an almost complete recovery in travel to Russia and Malaysia in the first quarter of 2024.

However, Thailand’s performance in attracting Chinese travelers has been less impressive, possibly due to a shooting incident in October last year.