China’s 2025 May Day holiday saw a strong rebound in travel and consumer spending, with both domestic and cross-border tourism reaching new highs, supported by the country’s advanced digital payment infrastructure.
Why it matters:
The May Day holiday, among China’s longest public breaks, is often seen as a key indicator of consumer spending sentiment in the country. The surge signals continued post-COVID tourism recovery and highlights China’s deepening integration with global travel markets. As digital payment platforms like Alipay and WeChat expand services for foreign visitors, international tourism in and out of China is becoming more seamless, offering new opportunities for businesses and governments alike.
Details: China’s Ministry of Tourism reported 314 million domestic trips over the May Day holiday, marking a 6.5% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, transactions made through Weixin Pay, one of the country’s major mobile payment platforms, grew by over 10%, with dining-related spending seeing a particularly strong uptick.
- Overall transaction volume rose over 10% year over year, dining-related transactions increased 12.3%.
- Cities with the highest travel-related spending included Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Chongqing.
- According to Alibaba owned travel platform Fliggy, bookings for international cruises surged over 60% year-over-year. Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, and the US remained top destinations for Chinese travelers.
- Alipay reported a 180% rise in spending by foreign visitors in the first three days of the holiday.
Context: New orders in China’s services sector have slowed since March, amid uncertainty linked to US tariffs. Despite solid first-quarter growth supported by government stimulus, the Chinese economy remains under pressure from persistent deflationary risks. The Chinese government has prioritized expanding domestic demand, with a specific focus on boosting consumption in light of increasing external pressures. This emphasis on consumption is seen as crucial for economic stability and growth.
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