The global tourism industry is seeing a surge in bookings as Chinese tourists venture overseas for the extended May Labor Day holiday, signaling a return to pre-pandemic travel levels. According to data from travel forecaster ForwardKeys, outbound trips between April 27 to May 5 are only 7% below 2019 levels, a welcome sign for the industry that has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The increase in bookings has outpaced expectations, with a last-minute rush driving up ticket sales for overseas travel. Domestic ticketing within China has also exceeded 2019 levels by 4% for the same period, indicating a robust recovery in both domestic and international travel.
This rebound in Chinese tourism is a positive sign for the travel industry, which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With restrictions easing and more people feeling comfortable traveling again, the outlook for the tourism sector looks promising as travelers seek to explore new destinations and reunite with loved ones.
