As China’s May Day holiday (May 1 - May 5) approaches, the country’s tourism market is poised for a new wave of growth. According to the May Day Travel Trends Report released by Ctrip — a leading Chinese travel service provider — as of April 20, Hainan hotel bookings for the holiday period surged 93% over last year’s figures, with flight reservations up 63% and inbound travel bookings surging by 315% over 2024. Haikou has seen over 130% more travel bookings, while Sanya has also racked up a 54% increase.

The report highlights emerging trends for this year’s holiday: long-distance trips, cross-border travel, and exploration of county-level destinations. Searches for long-distance travel options in Hainan have risen significantly.

Data from Hainan’s Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports shows 33.86 million domestic and international visits were made to the province in Q1 2024, up 5.6% year-on-year, including 309,600 inbound travelers (a 19.3% increase). Total tourism revenue rose 6% year-on-year to 75.41 billion yuan (about $10.33).

In response to the upcoming peak demand, Hainan’s attractions are rolling out a variety of  innovative offerings. Examples include family-friendly packages at Betel Nut Valley Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park, thrilling performances at Sanya Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, and a four-day long fireworks extravaganza at Danzhou Ocean Flower Island Resort.

Betel Nut Valley Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park (Photo provided by Betel Nut Valley Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park)

Thrilling performances at Sanya Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark (Photo provided by Sanya Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark)

Fireworks extravaganza at Danzhou Ocean Flower Island Resort (Photo provided Evergrande Group)

According to local authorities, Hainan plans to further optimize the island province’s flight networks, enhance cross-border travel convenience, and promote integrated cultural-tourism-sports initiatives in order to continue to develop as a comprehensive, all-season travel destination.