Chinese tourists' outbound travel during the recent holiday has drawn continued attention from overseas media. Reports by Australia's ABC and South Korea's Maeil Business Newspaper show that Chinese tourists are traveling for longer and to more distant destinations this year, bringing new visitors and spending to overseas markets.
ABC reported on Oct. 7 that Australia was one of the most popular overseas destinations during China's National Day Golden Week, with the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays combining to extend travel radius.
Citing International Air Transport Association data, ABC said bookings on China-Australia flights in October 2026 rose 19 percent compared with the same period in 2025. Australian operators have clearly felt the return of Chinese visitors: a Melbourne travel agency said bookings from Chinese-speaking tourists rose noticeably over the past week, with two-day tours to the Great Ocean Road fully booked.
ABC also noted changes in travel style. Compared with the large group tours common in the past, more travelers now prefer small-group trips, self-driving and experience-oriented, higher-quality products.
Chinese visitors remain significant for Australia: in 2025 they were the country's second-largest source of international visitors, with more than 1.1 million arrivals, up 18 percent year on year.
The momentum also reached South Korea. Maeil Business Newspaper reported on Oct. 5 that demand for overseas travel rose markedly during the holiday, with South Korea among the most favored destinations. Department stores, duty-free shops and convenience stores rolled out payment discounts for Chinese tourists.
Korean media noted that Chinese tourists are shifting from concentrated large groups and heavy shopping toward more dispersed independent travel, experiential tourism and quality consumption.
