Airbnb data shows exceptional growth in tourism sector

China's outbound tourism sector is expected to see a recovery growth during this winter, and Southeast Asia, North Europe and Australia are gaining popularity among Chinese tourists, according to US-based lodging and short-term vacation rental provider Airbnb.

Data from Airbnb showed that the number of Chinese users searching for outbound stays during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, which will last eight days from Feb 10 to Feb 17, 2024, surged more than 14-fold year-on-year.

The most popular overseas destinations for Chinese travelers during the winter are Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Norway and South Korea, Airbnb said.

In the third quarter of this year, the company's outbound travel business on the Chinese mainland grew more than 100 percent compared with the same period last year, while its business in the Asia-Pacific region has rebounded to the pre-COVID level.

Kong Zhiqiu, head of Airbnb's China business, said the country's outbound tourism market is witnessing a robust recovery, and he is bullish on the growth prospects of outbound tourism in China.

The company will step up its localization push to promote the innovation of products so as to cater to the demands of Chinese tourists, Kong added.