Tongcheng Travel has released the "2026 Spring Festival Travel Trends Report." The report indicates that the "longest Spring Festival holiday in history," combined with a minor wave of workers taking five days of leave to enjoy a 15-day break, is actively boosting the vibrancy of the cultural tourism market for the new year. On the Tongcheng Travel platform, continuing the trend of "increasing volume and prices" seen during New Year's Day, booking enthusiasm for major products such as Spring Festival flights, hotels, homestays, and package tours has been steadily rising over the past month. The Spring Festival is not only an important time for returning home for family reunions but also another "super-long golden week" besides the National Day holiday. The report shows that driven by the longer holiday, the proportion of people traveling during the 2026 Spring Festival is expected to increase further, gradually catching up with the numbers of those returning home. With a mix of diverse demands including leisure vacations, visiting relatives and friends, and returning home for reunions, the characteristics of a "segmented New Year celebration" and a "composite Spring Festival" will become increasingly distinct. Reflected in travel trends, besides the passenger flow peaks at the beginning and end of the holiday, multiple travel peaks will also emerge during the holiday period. Among these, the second and third days of the Lunar New Year are the peak period for users to switch modes and collectively embark on new journeys. Data from Tongcheng shows that Guangdong, Fujian, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Jiangxi rank among the top 5 popular Spring Festival destinations known for their strong festive atmosphere. The "longest Spring Festival holiday in history," coupled with the "take 5 days off for a 15-day break" model, has led to more robust demand for outbound travel during this Spring Festival compared to previous years. The report indicates that Southeast Asia, with its moderate flight distances, rich Spring Festival atmosphere, and visa-free convenience, remains the preferred overseas destination for Chinese citizens celebrating the New Year. So far, Southeast Asian destinations account for half of the top 10 popular outbound travel destinations for the Spring Festival, primarily including Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bali.
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