- Dida reveals that international hotel bookings by Chinese visitors on its platform during the May Day holiday have more than doubled year-on-year.
- ADR(average daily rate) for Chinese international hotel bookings has also increased by 5% year-on-year, approaching pre-pandemic levels.
- Japan is the number one international destination for Chinese travelers, followed by South Korea, Malaysia,Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore,Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam and UAE, in order of popularity. *
Shenzhen, China, 7th May, 2025 - Dida, a tech-driven global travel distribution company, reveals remarkable hotel bookings for the May Day holiday of 2025 (1-5 May). The data underscores a robust recovery in global tourism, with international hotel bookings by Chinese travellers soaring along with growth in overseas visitors travelling to China.
International hotel bookings by Chinese travellers have more than doubled year-on-year, during this period with a 103% increase in booking volume compared to 2024. The average daily rate (ADR) for Chinese international hotel bookings is also up 5% year-on-year, approaching pre-pandemic levels as travellers increasingly opt for premium stays. In addition, the average length of international hotel stays fell slightly to 2 days, down 6.4% year-on-year, indicating a preference for more frequent short-haul trips.
Based on Dida’s extensive high value B2B distribution network, during this period tailor-made tour operators generated 43% of the bookings, retail travel agencies 34% and online travel agencies 16%, with 7% generated from a range of other channels.
The top 10 most booked international destinations for Chinese travellers during the May Day holiday were Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam and UAE, in order of popularity.
Top 10 International Destinations: 2025 vs 2024
In a significant shift from 2024, Japan and South Korea have emerged as the top choices, surpassing previous leading destination Thailand:
1. Japan ▲1
2. South Korea ▲3
3. Malaysia ▲1
4. Thailand ▼3
5. Hong Kong SAR ▼2
6. Singapore
7. Italy
8. Indonesia
9. Vietnam
10. UAE
Domestic travel within China has also increased by 33% year-on-year, while inbound tourism by international visitors has more than tripled, rising by 306%- fueled by the introduction of visa-friendly policies and China’s growing global appeal as a holiday destination.
Gareth Matthews, Chief Marketing Officer at Dida, commented: " In this new era of travel, Chinese travelers are exploring the globe with renewed passion, and the world is flocking to China in record numbers. We're excited to be at the forefront of this travel revolution. Our strategically curated portfolio of hotel partnerships is the cornerstone of our ability to deliver exceptional value."
*All figures quoted in this press release are based on Dida accommodation booking data for the 2025 Chinese May Day holiday period.
The 1st May is Labor Day, a Chinese public holiday. It is a peak time for travel with Chinese people taking 5 days of holiday on average, commonly referred to as the May Day holidays.
