BEIJING: With the annual summer travel rush underway in China, the tourism industry is anticipating an even more robust market, buoyed by optimistic projections for continued growth in family travel.
According to a report on 2025 summer travel trends released by online travel agency LY.com in June, family travel remains the main driver of summer transportation this year. The report expected that passengers traveling with minors would account for 34.7 percent of domestic civil aviation travelers and approximately 23 percent on international routes during this year’s summer travel season, from July to August, both higher than the same period in 2024.
It also estimated that around 6 million people are expected to take a flight for the first time during the summer travel season this year.
Beijing-based travel agency Utour had already seen 70 percent year-on-year growth in the number of its summer travel customers as of mid-June. Family travel is projected to account for more than 60 percent of its summer bookings.
“Our view is that this summer could become the most vibrant tourism season in recent years,” said Li Mengran, media and public relations manager of Utour.
According to information released by the agency, there is a significant rise in customer queries for educational trips, study tours and family-themed products. In that regard, the agency has introduced a 12-day summer travel package, featuring a family tour to Britain. The package includes visits to several top British universities, guided tours of the British Museum, and immersive Harry Potter-themed experiences, including visits to iconic filming locations.
Tourism industry insiders believe that as more people born in the 1980s and 1990s become parents, they increasingly seek experiences that go beyond traditional sightseeing and are more willing to spend on emotionally enriching travel.
In May, China’s leading e-commerce platform, Meituan, and the China Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (CAAPA) jointly released a report on the development of family vacations in 2025, noting that family vacations have become a new form of investment in modern family consumption. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
