Australia has emerged as one of the hottest outbound destinations for Chinese holiday-makers during the combined Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day ‘Golden Week’, which ends today. Online travel giant Trip.com reports a surge in long-haul bookings, while International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures show flight reservations from China to Australia for October 2026 are up 19 % on the same month last year. Travel agents in Melbourne and Sydney confirm strong demand for self-drive itineraries and small-group luxury tours, signalling a shift away from pre-pandemic coach trips. Although Chinese arrivals remain below 2019 peaks, the uptick provides welcome revenue for airlines and regional hotels still rebuilding after COVID-19 border closures. For corporate mobility planners the growth translates into tighter seat availability on key routes (Guangzhou-Sydney, Shanghai-Melbourne) during Chinese holiday periods and potentially higher fares. Companies should book assignee travel well in advance or consider alternate hubs such as Kuala Lumpur. The demand boom also strengthens the case for extending the 10-year Frequent Traveller visa pilot—due to expire mid-2027—and for accelerating automated SmartGate enrolment for Chinese e-passport holders to ease arrivals processing.
Source: ABC News
