The number of outbound and inbound flight bookings by Chinese consumers on Fliggy leapt by over 450% year-on-year in the first two months of 2023 versus the data generated in the first two months last year.
The platform also noted a 190% year-on-year increase in orders for outbound tour products, including overseas local rides, scenic spot tickets, and online visa processing services during the same period.
Fliggy launched a month-long promotion for outbound travel in late February, during which it sold over 130,000 products such as flight ticket packages, pre-sale hotels and resorts, theme park tickets and island vacation tours in the first week.
Pre-sales of the featured cruise tours along Nordic fjords and the Mediterranean each surpassed RMB1 million ($143,491) in a single day. Thailand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam were among the top outbound travel destinations by the number of air tickets sold, with growing interest in European destinations as well, Fliggy said.
China’s travel consumption has shifted from destination-focused trips to experience-oriented and interest-driven vacations, said Simeon Shi, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Corporate Development at Fliggy. Shi advised travel service providers to spend more time researching the changes in consumer behavior.