Surge in Chinese Travelers to Europe... Visa Applications Recover to 70% of Pre-COVID Levels

With the peak summer travel season underway, the demand for overseas travel among Chinese tourists has largely recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels. In particular, European destinations related to the Olympics are gaining strong popularity.

On the 24th, China's state-run Global Times (GT) cited data from outsourcing and service agency VFS Global, reporting that visa applications from Chinese citizens in the first half of this year reached 70% of the same period in 2019. It was explained that there is a surge in applications for Schengen visas, which guarantee entry among European Union (EU) member countries.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

VFS added that visa applications for major events such as the European Cup and the Paris Olympics, as well as for study abroad and travel, have been steadily increasing, making Europe the most popular travel destination this year.

Kishen Singh, Chief Operating Officer of VFS Global China, said, "Visa applications from China, one of the largest and most important supply markets, have reached a peak," adding, "With the resumption of flights and changes in visa policies, the enthusiasm of Chinese citizens for high-end outbound tourism is being revived." He also noted that most visa applicants come from first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

In particular, the number of Chinese travelers heading to Paris is expected to increase significantly for the time being. According to the travel platform Qunar, international flight bookings to Paris from the 20th of this month to the 20th of next month have surged 2.3 times compared to the previous year. China Eastern Airlines reported that from July 1 to 18, ahead of the Olympics, China-France flights transported 16,000 passengers, with a load factor of 84.48%, up 3.94 percentage points from last month. During this summer travel peak season, flight bookings on the same route have surpassed the levels of the same period in 2019, and the load factor is 1.02 percentage points higher.

Around the Paris Olympics, local airlines such as China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines have increased or launched direct flights to France. China Southern Airlines plans to increase the Guangzhou-Paris route from five to seven flights per week from the 26th until September 11. Hainan Airlines will start a new direct Chongqing-Paris route from the 6th of next month, in addition to the current Shenzhen-Paris route.

Cheng Xin, senior travel consultant at travel agency U Tour Group, predicted that the number of Chinese tourists visiting France and other European countries during this summer vacation period could increase by about 30% compared to last year. Other major visa application destinations include Canada, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. GT also reported that nearby countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Thailand remain popular travel destinations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.