Cross-Border Travel Expected to Surge During Dragon Boat Festival in China
# Bibek Sagar Poudel
On Wednesday, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) projected that the country will see an average of 2.15 million daily cross-border trips during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday period, marking a 12.2% year-on-year increase. The peak is expected on June 1.
The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it falls on May 31, with public holidays running from May 31 to June 2.
According to a statement posted on the NIA’s official WeChat account, major international airports in China are expected to handle increased traffic. Shanghai Pudong International Airport is anticipated to lead with 100,000 daily cross-border trips, followed by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (48,000) and Beijing Capital International Airport (46,000).
During the three-day holiday, inbound tourism in China is forecast to maintain strong growth, driven by simplified visa policies and an improved travel environment. Domestic travel agencies report that hotel searches by inbound tourists surged by 100% as of May 19, with the top sources of visitors including Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and the U.S.
Xu Xiaolei, Marketing Manager at CYTS Tours Holding Co., told the Global Times, “China’s tourism sector continues to heat up this year, with online inquiries on our platform increasing by around 20% due to favorable policies such as visa exemptions and instant tax refunds.”
He added, “As more foreign tourists visit and have positive experiences in China, the potential of the inbound tourism market will keep growing. Young travelers, in particular, are showing a strong desire to explore the country.”
Meanwhile, Trip.com data shows that the top 10 outbound travel destinations during the holiday include Japan, South Korea, China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Thailand.
The NIA noted that travel between HKSAR, Macao, and the Chinese mainland has been steadily rising, and the Dragon Boat Festival is expected to further boost these numbers, especially with major events scheduled in these regions.
According to the HKSAR government website, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki stated that the region expects around 3.2 million passenger trips during the holiday, with approximately 2.73 million passing through land border checkpoints.
The NIA has urged border authorities to closely monitor cross-border traffic, provide real-time updates, and ensure sufficient staffing to keep waiting times at checkpoints under 30 minutes.
