Thailand won.

Chinese tourists take photos on an overpass in Bangkok in 2024. Photo: Reuters .

2026 marks the longest Lunar New Year holiday in Chinese history, lasting nine days (February 15-23), and is predicted to significantly boost overseas travel by Chinese people.

The latest data from various online travel platforms reveals a notable shift in destination trends. While Japan consistently held the top spot in previous years, Thailand has overtaken it to become the most popular overseas destination for Chinese tourists during this year's Lunar New Year holiday.

This is a surprising development because for a long time, Thailand has faced a sharp decline in the number of tourists from China following the fraud case involving actor Wang Jing, along with a series of other security and safety issues.

Travel And Tour World believes that Thailand's rise is no accident. In recent years, the country has actively promoted itself as a tourist-friendly destination, combining affordable airfares, diverse accommodation options, and many unique cultural experiences.

Furthermore, China's easing of travel restrictions and its regional tourism promotion policies have also contributed to the flow of tourists towards Southeast Asia. Thailand stands out thanks to its well-developed tourism infrastructure, diverse landscapes, and relatively favorable visa policies.

Tourists visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha inside the Royal Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2023. Photo: SCMP.

According to data provided by Qunar.com to Global Times , the top 10 destinations for hotel bookings by Chinese tourists from mid-January to the end of the Lunar New Year holiday are: Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong (China), Singapore, Russia, Vietnam, Macau (China), Australia, and Indonesia.

Notably, Japan is not included in this list. Xinhua News Agency, citing data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), reported that the number of visitors from mainland China to Japan in December decreased by 45.3% year-on-year, to approximately 330,400.

JNTO stated that the downward trend became more pronounced following the controversial remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November 2025.

Data from Tongcheng Travel also shows that Southeast Asian countries account for half of the top 10 most booked international destinations for Tet holiday flights, led by Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and Bali (Indonesia).

Statistics from aviation data platform Flight Master confirm that Thailand is the top overseas destination during the peak Lunar New Year period in 2026. Meanwhile, the number of flights from China to Japan has dropped sharply, down 43.7% compared to the same period last year.

Flights from China to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos, have seen a significant increase.

Chinese tourists wearing kimonos visit Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Ward, Tokyo, Japan, in November 2025. Photo: The Japan Times .

Conversely, Chinese airlines are aggressively expanding their international flight networks. China Eastern Airlines reported launching or increasing the frequency of more than 50 international routes, with a total of over 2,800 flights operated during the peak Lunar New Year season.

The airline is focusing on expanding its capacity to popular winter destinations in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Flight frequencies have also been increased on routes from major cities and first- and second-tier centers in China to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Malé, Singapore, Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Hanoi .

The Civil Aviation Administration of China forecasts that the total number of air passengers during the upcoming Lunar New Year peak period could reach a record 95 million, averaging 2.38 million passengers per day, a 5.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

Source: https://znews.vn/thai-lan-da-thang-post1622856.html