Junlyu, the country's first all-electric passenger ship, runs sightseeing trips on the Yangtze River in Wuhan on June 27. [Photo by Li Changlin/For China Daily]

Trip.com reports that younger people have been the main travel force, with people born after 1990 accounting for over half of bookings.

Chinese will largely be restricted to domestic travel for the rest of 2020, which means that the opening of international borders in 2021 will see a boom in people hungry for overseas travel, the Mailman X report says.

Lin predicts that 2021 could see some of the biggest tourist numbers on record.

"China has entered the recovery stage and is putting an end to months of lockdown," Lin says.

"Business as usual" has resumed for many, as the country looks to reignite its economy, and the travel industry in particular.

"Consumer attitudes have changed during COVID-19," Lin says.

"Travel companies and operators will need to adjust to the new normal."