With the official launch of summer railway transportation nationwide, the consumer market for summer travel in 2025 is expected to experience a comprehensive heating up.

According to data from China Railway Group Corporation, from July 1st to August 31st, the country's railways are expected to send 953 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of 5.8%, with an average daily passenger volume of 15.37 million. The local railway bureau has increased the number of trains in popular directions such as Beijing and Shanghai by adding temporary passenger trains and high-speed trains, and launched special products such as the "Sky Mirror" tourist train and the study tour train to meet diversified travel needs.

New Consumer Trends: Graduation Tour, Parent Child Tour, and Outbound Tour in a Three legged Competition

Take advantage of the summer break for graduation travel. After the end of the college entrance examination, the graduation tourism market was the first to explode. According to data from Qunar Travel, hotel bookings for travelers aged 22-25 increased by 22% year-on-year in June, with multi person travel orders accounting for over 70%. Historical and cultural cities such as Beijing, Nanjing, and Xi'an have become the first choice for high school graduates, while cultural and museum venues such as the Palace Museum and the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang remain highly popular.

In addition, thanks to the visa free policy, the number of outbound travel bookings for college students has increased by over 60% year-on-year, with destinations such as Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia being favored.

Parent child families dominate the summer market. According to the same journey travel report, starting from mid July, families with children will concentrate on traveling, driving the proportion of domestic flights with children to 34.7%. According to data from Zhongxin Tourism, the proportion of parent-child families is expected to exceed 60%, and the number of inquiries for study tours and study abroad products has surged. Grassland, seaside, and theme parks have become popular choices, such as Hulunbuir Grassland and Sanya Seaside Resort. In order to meet the demand, the opening hours of various scenic spots have been extended. Xi'an Beilin Museum has launched the "Stone Rubbing Master Course", and the "Digital Terra Cotta Warriors" interactive exhibition has been launched in the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum Museum.

The recovery momentum of outbound tourism is strong. The number of visa processing orders on Ctrip platform increased by double digits year-on-year, reaching a new high in nearly three years. The popularity of the Schengen area in Europe has rebounded, with visa applications for destinations such as Italy and Norway increasing by over 80%. Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and other airlines have opened new routes from Guangzhou to Tashkent and Xi'an to Istanbul, and the increase in international flights has driven a surge in outbound travel bookings. According to Tuniu data, the booking volume of long-term travel products in Europe and Australia has increased by over 50% year-on-year, and short-term group tours have also entered a consulting peak.