China’s Golden Week holiday significantly increased outbound tourism, driving notable travel surges across multiple international destinations. According to the National Immigration Administration, 4.4 million outbound trips were recorded from the Chinese mainland during this year’s National Day holiday, marking a 9.3 percent increase compared with the previous year.

The extended holiday period combined the Mid-Autumn Festival from September 25 to 27 with the seven-day National Day break starting October 1. Many Chinese travelers took advantage of the opportunity to extend their time off, creating a continuous 13-day vacation. Data from Chinese travel portal Ctrip indicated that one in ten tourists merged the two holidays into a prolonged trip. The proportion of outbound trips lasting eight days or more rose from 29 percent last year to around 42 percent this year.

Europe’s share of Chinese outbound travel rose to about 1.5 times its usual level, while trips to New Zealand doubled year-on-year. Regional Asian destinations including South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Australia also ranked highly among popular holiday spots. Notably, Japan, which had previously been a top choice, fell out of the list this year. Long-haul travel to countries such as Australia, the United States, and Italy was also in strong demand.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand experienced an 8.24 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals in the week from September 27 to October 3, reaching 522,532 visitors. Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Pancharoenworakul confirmed that China remained Thailand’s largest source market during Golden Week, with 133,946 Chinese visitors arriving—a 41.98 percent increase from the previous week.

South Korea saw a notable uptick in spending by foreign tourists during the holiday period. Reports indicated that retail sales to foreign visitors more than doubled compared with the same period last year. Convenience stores recorded a 78 to 88 percent increase in foreign customer sales, while offline fashion retailer Musinsa Standard saw a 220 percent rise. Department stores like Lotte reported a 130 percent year-on-year increase in foreign customer sales, with Chinese tourists accounting for approximately one-third of these shoppers.

Malaysia’s state of Penang also attracted increased Chinese visitation, benefiting from visa-free entry policies and enhanced flight connections. Local tour operators noted a roughly 20 percent rise in arrivals compared to 2025, attributing growth to returning visitors who contribute to positive online word-of-mouth.

In Australia, China’s Golden Week helped drive growth in the visitor economy of New South Wales, the country’s largest state economically. The state welcomed 4.1 million international visitors in the year ending June 2026, reflecting a 5.8 percent increase, with China the largest international market according to Tourism Research Australia. International visitor expenditure in New South Wales rose 14.5 percent to A$15.1 billion (approximately US$10.5 billion), fueled primarily by increased visitor numbers and spending from Chinese tourists.

Overall, the convergence of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays has reinforced Golden Week’s role as a peak season for Chinese outbound travel, significantly impacting tourism industries worldwide.