Chinese Outbound Travel Trade Survey published by Dragon Trail Research on July 29, 2026, surveying over 300 Chinese travel agents, reveals that 78% of agents saw an overall increase in outbound demand in the first half of 2026 compared to 2025, with 70% stating that current summer demand has outpaced last year's levels.
Dragon Trail analyst Janice Meng noted that these results highlight the market's resilience, as travel agents report continued growth despite reduced flight capacity, geopolitical tensions, and rising travel costs.
This expansion is heavily driven by changing demographics and evolving product preferences.
Travelers queue at a ticket station in Beijing, China. Photo by Zhang Kaiyv via Pexels
Young travelers aged 18 to 35 emerged as the fastest-growing segment, cited by 47% of agents.
