China's outbound travel bookings to popular destinations during the upcoming Qingming Festival, such as the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea, are surging. This increase is fueled by visa-free policies, streamlined entry procedures, and favorable spring weather.

Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing.
The overlap of student spring breaks in multiple Chinese cities with the Qingming Festival has created an extended travel period from Wednesday to April 6, presenting a significant growth opportunity for the tourism market, according to travel agencies.

Data shows that this extended leave is driving the development of new travel products. The dual-city tour of Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur and Penang has emerged as a popular itinerary, with related searches increasing 230 percent on a weekly basis. Unique experiences like temple blessings and spring markets in Thailand's Bangkok and Chiang Mai are attracting large numbers of young tourists. Thanks to visa-free policies, bookings have surged by 176 percent year on year.

"Destinations like Bali and other islands in Southeast Asia, along with Singapore and cities in Thailand, are among the more popular choices for outbound travel. Most of these are short trips," said Zheng Nan, public relations manager for an online travel platform.

"The spring break policy in many primary and secondary schools has been implemented, leading to a trend of extending holidays for travel during the Qingming Festival. The number of people traveling abroad has increased by about 30 percent compared to the same period last year," said Li Mengran, public relations director for a travel group.

In addition, long-haul Europe-themed tours centered on flower viewing are gaining popularity, offering tourists enriching experiences that blend culture and nature.

"I'm planning to visit the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Germany. This route is ideal for enjoying tulips in the Netherlands, and exploring the rich cultural heritage of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg," said a customer.