Tourism from China to Hawaiʻi has spiked significantly
The pandemic had a significant impact on the tourism industry, especially with the decrease in travel from China. However, recent data from, eTurbo indicates a robust comeback by Chinese tourists. Tourism from China to Hawaii has surged significantly, with bookings for outbound travel from mainland China increasing by 392% for 2024 compared to 2023. Prior to the pandemic, Chinese travelers took 155 million international trips, spending $245 billion. Despite the relaxation of travel restrictions, China was slower to reopen, leading to a delayed recovery in global tourism. Despite this, the increase in bookings has been driven by lower airfare prices, increased business class and Premium Economy travel, and airlines have responded by increasing outbound airline capacity. This increase is part of a broader strategy to attract more Chinese visitors. As disposable incomes in China rise, Chinese tourists are expected to spend more, with an average daily expenditure of $1,000.
Опубликовано : 10 месяцев назад от Sandy Harjo-Livingston в Travel
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The pandemic had a significant impact on the tourism industry, especially with the decrease in travel from China. However, recent data from, eTurbo indicates a robust comeback by Chinese tourists.
Bookings for outbound travel from mainland China have surged by 392% for 2024 compared to 2023. Before the pandemic, Chinese travelers took 155 million international trips, spending $245 billion. The world has eagerly awaited China’s return to global tourism.
Despite the relaxation of travel restrictions, China was slower to reopen, resulting in a delayed recovery. The anticipated surge in Chinese travel for 2023 didn’t materialize, but 2024 shows a different story.
Industry data up to March 31 reveals a significant eagerness amongst Chinese travelers. While not yet at pre-pandemic levels, there is a notable rise in demand for travel bookings during peak periods. For example, bookings made in late January for travel before the 2024 Chinese New Year reached 106% of 2019 levels.
Honolulu has seen a remarkable rise in popularity amongst Chinese tourists. Honolulu has climbed from being ranked at number 9 up to rank number 5 as a preferred destination. This shift is part of Hawaiʻi’s broader strategy to attract more Chinese visitors.
The overall increase in outbound travel from China has been driven by various factors, including lower airfare prices, which have made travel more affordable.
Chinese tourists are also embracing Business Class and Premium Economy travel more than before, reflecting their spending habits and travel preferences. Airlines have responded by significantly increasing outbound airline capacity, with some routes experiencing over 3000% growth to meet the surging demand.
Chinese travelers are meticulously planning their trips, as they are already planning and booking their travels for October’s Golden Week holiday. Data shows a 1347% year-on-year increase in those bookings.
In the EMEA region, travel peaked in January with a 676% increase, continuing strong throughout the year. North America saw significant growth in the first quarter, especially in Hawaii.
As disposable incomes in China rise, Chinese travelers are expected to spend more, with an average daily expenditure of $1,000. Countries worldwide are developing strategies to attract these affluent tourists. Despite shifts in popular travel routes, the top 10 destinations for Chinese travelers in 2024 remain similar to 2023, with notable changes such as Australia and Malaysia rising in the rankings.
Visa-free agreements and reduced airfare prices have contributed to the increase in Chinese outbound travel, making 2024 a landmark year for the global tourism industry as it adapts to the return of Chinese tourists.