China: 826 Million Trips During 'Golden Week' and Per-Trip Spending Drops 1.9%

China recorded 826 million domestic trips during the seven-day 'Golden Week' holiday, a 6.3% rise in the daily average of trips compared with the eight-day 2025 holiday, but average spending per trip dropped 1.9% year-on-year to 893.92 yuan, or about $133.51.

According to data from China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, total spending during the holiday reached 738.375 billion yuan. The average spending per trip is the lowest since 2022, indicating that travelers spent less per trip despite the higher daily average of trips.

Conversely, the percentage of Chinese citizens intending to travel abroad rose to 54% in a survey conducted by 'Dragon Trail' in August, up from 35% a year earlier. The 'Trip.com' platform reported that bookings for hotel stays abroad of seven nights or more rose 123%. An earlier report had pointed to the same trend in outbound travel intentions before these official figures were released.

This contrast points to a shift in Chinese spending patterns, with travel volume remaining high while spending per trip declines. Tourist destinations around the world, including Arab markets, are monitoring this trend as it determines the volume and value of Chinese outbound travel demand in the coming months.

What do these terms mean?

Golden Week: A long national holiday in China lasting a week around October 1st, considered one of the busiest travel periods in the world.

Spending per trip: The average amount spent by a single traveler per trip, measuring the value of travel rather than its volume.

Outbound tourism: Travel by citizens of a country outside its borders, measured by the number of travelers and their spending in host destinations.

Travel intention: The percentage of people planning a trip in an upcoming period according to opinion polls, used as an early indicator of demand.