Chinese domestic travel during the forthcoming Labour Day holiday is set to exceed pre-pandemic levels substantially, according to research undertaken by ForwardKeys.

In recent years, Labour Day has become a significant national holiday. In 2008 it was cut back from a seven-days to a three-day break but was extended to four days in 2019 and five days in the last two years. Therefore, for those in the travel and hospitality industry, it is a holiday period eagerly awaited.

As of mid-April, total flight tickets issued for travel over the peak period, 1st – 5th May, were 5.8% ahead of where they were at the equivalent moment in 2019. Bookings for the extended holiday period, 28th April – 9th May, were 9.8% ahead.

China's capital, Beijing, and Shanghai, where Disney Resort is celebrating its 5th birthday with a "Year of Magical Surprises", will be the most popular destinations for holiday travel this spring, with bookings 31.4% and 9.7% ahead respectively.