Chinese travel websites are reporting a surge in outbound travel during Golden Week, which is one day longer than usual this year.
Golden Week is China's National Day holiday — a celebration commemorating the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Three or four days of paid leave are given to workers and surrounding weekends are rescheduled so they can enjoy a long break.
In 2025 Golden Week runs from 1-8 October and coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Many workers are taking an additional three days of leave, leading to a "super holiday" that has fueled international travel plans.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China said air traffic is predicted to surpass 19.2 million people, up 3.6 percent year-on-year, setting a record high for the period.
Chinese tourism services firm U-tour said the number of its customers planning to travel has surged by 130 per cent year-on-year.
Trip.com Group said outbound accommodation reservations on its platform have posted triple-digit growth year-on-year, underscored by a growing appetite for variety and unique experiences.
Waterfront cities such as Sydney have climbed in popularity, with travellers drawn to the harbour and park-lined waterfront areas.
China leads visitor growth in NSW
China was the largest contributor to international visitor growth (up 23.7 per cent) in NSW during the financial year ending June 2025, according to Tourism Research Australia (TRA).
Sydney Airport recorded the highest seat capacity from mainland China of any Australian airport, welcoming its ninth mainland carrier, Juneyao Air, in December 2024 under the NSW Government’s Aviation Attraction Fund (AAF).
The Australian Government recently launched a new Come and Say G'day campaign aimed at encouraging Chinese travellers to plan and book an Australian holiday.
The campaign went live in China on 7 August.
