China has announced its third phase of the resumption of outbound group tour services, now encompassing a total of 138 countries and regions, an expansion from the previous 60. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism declared the decision, effective immediately, emphasizing that national travel agencies and online travel companies will be authorized to offer outbound group tour services to these destinations.
The newly expanded list includes a diverse array of countries and regions, ranging from 12 in Asia, 27 in Europe, 18 in Africa, and others in North America, South America, and Oceania.
This decision is seen as a progressive step following the trial resumption of outbound group tours for Chinese citizens. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism highlighted the stable and orderly nature of the outbound tourism market’s overall operation since the initial trial, noting the positive role it has played in enhancing tourism exchanges and cooperation.
In response to the announcement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry clarified that China has been progressively reinstating outbound group tour services since February. As international passenger flights recover and Chinese citizens express a growing desire to travel abroad, China has opted to further expand the scope of group tours starting immediately.
This development has been warmly received by various countries. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, along with tourism ministers in South Korea and Australia, welcomed the expansion, recognizing its potential to stimulate their economies.
Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell noted that this step constitutes a positive move toward stabilizing their relationship with China. Kishida expressed hope that the resumption of group tours will lead to a recovery in inbound travel from China.
The previous two phases of China’s outbound group tour resumption included 60 countries and regions, involving destinations such as Russia, France, Spain, Italy, and Southeast Asian and African countries.
Within minutes of the announcement, domestic travel platforms introduced new products for the added destinations. The increased interest was evident, with online searches for the specified overseas destinations experiencing a significant surge in popularity, particularly Japan, which witnessed a remarkable 350 percent increase.
China’s major online travel agency, Ctrip, reported an instantaneous twentyfold surge in searches for outbound travel products following the notice. The agency received inquiries that exceeded over ten times the usual volume for the summer season.
The revival of outbound travel enthusiasm among Chinese citizens, suppressed for several years, has surged since the beginning of the year, especially among students during summer vacation. In the first half of 2023, overseas travel destinations welcomed a total of 40.37 million Chinese mainland visitors, with short-distance travel predominantly driving the recovery.
While Southeast Asia remains a favored destination due to its proximity and affordability, new trends have emerged. Iran, the Caucasus region, Central Asia, the Balkans, and New Zealand have gained traction in this year’s summer outbound tourism market.
The supply side of outbound travel is also on the mend. Among the third group of countries in the expanded list, direct flights are available to Japan and South Korea. These two destinations have seen a tenfold increase in booking volumes for the summer, coupled with a 40 percent decrease in flight prices.
Nonetheless, challenges such as obtaining visas for certain countries have been highlighted. Limited visa appointment slots and high rejection rates are deterring Chinese tourists from these destinations.
The upcoming “golden weeks” of the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays are anticipated to be a peak time for outbound group tours. However, factors such as visa restrictions, flight capacity limitations, and high prices will continue to shape preferences. The second half of the year is expected to witness an expansion in outbound travel options, encouraging more diverse and cost-effective choices for Chinese tourists.