High Cancellations Push Chinese Travellers toward Domestic ‘Deep Tours’ for Labour-Day Holiday

With less than two weeks to go before the 1 May break, a second China National Radio report on 17 April shows how the spike in international flight cancellations is already reshaping consumer behaviour. OTAs Tongcheng-eLong and Qunar told CNR that searches for outbound tickets fell 12 percent week-on-week after news of the Thai AirAsia and Air China suspensions, while keyword searches such as “Xinjiang self-drive” and “Zhejiang ancient-town tour” jumped by up to 35 percent. Industry analysts say 2026 could see the most pronounced pivot to “near, short, and deep” domestic itineraries since borders reopened. Rising fuel surcharges have lifted average round-trip fares to Southeast Asia by 18 percent versus 2025, eroding the traditional price advantage of overseas breaks. At the same time, provincial tourism boards have rolled out subsidies—RMB 300 off high-speed-rail packages in Jiangxi, free scenic-area entry in Guizhou—to capture the displaced demand. For multinational employers the domestic shift carries both opportunity and risk. On the plus side, fewer staff will be subject to overseas duty-of-care protocols over the holiday. Conversely, popular Chinese scenic spots are likely to see record footfall, increasing the probability of crowd-control measures and transport bottlenecks that could delay employees returning to work on 6 May. Relocation and assignment managers should also note that some assignees use statutory holidays for mandatory immigration exits tied to stay-permit renewal. Those affected should reschedule exit-runs well before 27 April or wait until mid-May, when seat availability traditionally improves. Policy-wise, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has yet to intervene. However, several NDRC experts quoted by state media hint that temporary fuel-surcharge caps are under discussion should Brent crude remain above US$200. Such a move could stabilise capacity and, by extension, restore confidence in outbound mobility planning.