In January, a resurgence of COVID-19 caused a substantial set back in domestic travel, with arrivals diving 69% compared to 2019. However, containment of the disease and innovative travel promotions have stimulated a spirited revival. Surprise destination promotions, known locally as “blind boxes”, in which the traveler purchases a flight ticket to an unknown or surprise destination for a very cheap price, typically $10-15, have been a big hit. Following the launch of “plane ticket blind boxes” by LY.com in March, more than 10 million people took up the offer in a sale coinciding with the Qingming festival in early April, although not all purchases converted into flight tickets. Other leading online travel agents, such as Ctrip, Fliggy and Qunar, followed suit in the third week of April and LY.com has just completed a further round of blind box offers. The promotions have created considerable popular interest among young audiences on social media platforms.

Outbound travel is still almost impossible for the Chinese. The only exception is Macau, which has a bilateral agreement with mainland China for quarantine free travel. Currently, Labor Day holiday demand for the destination stands at 75% of pre-pandemic levels.

This year’s record-breaking China’s Labor Day domestic travel is down to three factors: the release of pent-up demand, control of COVID-19 and imaginative marketing

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Surprise destination promotions, known locally as “blind boxes”, in which the traveler purchases a flight ticket to an unknown or surprise destination for a very cheap price, typically $10-15, have been a big hit.
Com in March, more than 10 million people took up the offer in a sale coinciding with the Qingming festival in early April, although not all purchases converted into flight tickets.
Other leading online travel agents, such as Ctrip, Fliggy and Qunar, followed suit in the third week of April and LY.