2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day Outbound Bookings: 75% Filled, Up 70% YoY, Europe Up 140%

The 'take three days off for a 13-day break' leave-stacking scheme has driven early momentum in the outbound travel market for the 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays, with travel agencies reporting a significantly earlier booking pace than in previous years. As of mid-August, bookings for related products had reached 75% of the target, with overall traveler numbers up 70% from the same period in 2025.

By destination, Europe is the main driver of outbound travel for this holiday, accounting for nearly half of all bookings, with traveler numbers to Europe up about 140% year on year. Boosted by the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, North America saw a 480% year-on-year increase in traveler numbers. Australia and New Zealand recorded a more than threefold increase in travel volume compared with the same period in 2025. On pricing, due to fluctuations in upstream costs such as airfares and hotels, as well as the leave-stacking scheme, prices for popular departure dates, including the first Mid-Autumn tour group and the National Day holiday itself, rose 20% to 25% above September weekday levels.

In overall holiday bookings, outbound travel accounted for more than half, with long-haul destinations such as Tahiti, Vancouver and Athens leading in popularity.

Flight bookings have also picked up. As of August 14, bookings for outbound and inbound routes from September 25 to October 7 exceeded 1.35 million tickets, up about 11% year on year; domestic route bookings exceeded 1.91 million tickets, up about 7%. On the supply and demand side, the leave-stacking scheme has significantly brought forward booking decisions, accelerating related searches and bookings. Airlines have increased international flight frequencies, and destinations have continued to introduce visa facilitation measures, providing fundamental support for long-haul cross-border travel.