CHINA. Digital marketing specialist China Trading Desk (CTD) has found China’s outbound travel market is entering a new phase of stability, according to the results of its Q3 Travel Sentiment Survey.

The survey indicates that 78% of travelers still book less than a month out, while 73% expect one to two overseas trips in the next 12 months.

China Trading Desk (CTD) today released its China Outbound Travel Sentiment Survey, Q3 2025, showing the market has moved from rebound to routine: short booking windows persist even as intent and spend stay firm. 78% of travellers still book less than a month out, while 73% expect one to two overseas trips in the next 12 months. Planning remains digital-first, with pre-departure research nudging up to 79%.

Young Chinese tourists have been flocking to Nepal, a country renowned for its breathtaking scenery, rich Buddhist history, and reasonable prices. But recent political upheaval has led to a sharp decline in Chinese tourism, a market that had experienced rapid expansion. Nepal’s tourism industry has suffered greatly as a result of the unrest that began in early September and has made many prospective tourists wary.

Chinese tourism to Nepal is set to slump after days of deadly political unrest have left many travellers “scared” to visit, dealing a potentially lasting blow to a country that had been emerging as a trendy travel destination for young Chinese.

This summer, Hu Jia and her family opted to skip Thailand’s iconic beaches and ornate temples, a short flight from her home in Sichuan province. Instead, she booked a two-week trip to Vietnam amid growing Chinese concerns over Thailand’s safety.

Earlier this year, as the Dragon Boat Festival closed, it struck me there was a change among Chinese travellers and their attitudes to cruises. China’s cruise sector has signalled not just recovery, but strategic reawakening.

According to China Trading Desk, Chinese outbound tourists are estimated to reach 155 million this year, a full resumption compared with pre-pandemic levels.

When Gao Huasheng, a university professor from Shanghai, began planning a two-week family holiday to San Francisco earlier this year, he worried about exposing his children to scenes of drug use or even gun violence.