Over 80% of Chinese travelers intend to travel during summer

Global travel intent remains robust at 74 percent for the upcoming summer, with Chinese travelers displaying even stronger intent at 81 percent, a latest survey said.

The survey, namely the 2026 Allianz Global Travel Confidence Index and jointly released by Allianz Partners, Allianz China Life Insurance Co Ltd and Allianz Jingdong General Insurance, said that China stands out as the market with the highest awareness of travel insurance globally, with 88 percent of Chinese travelers having purchased or planning to purchase travel insurance for their summer trips. The primary motivation for this is the desire for a peace-of-mind experience, ensuring protection against unexpected events and medical emergencies.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Allianz Partners between March 20 and April 14, spans 10 major global markets, namely China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States, and delves into consumer travel preferences, behavioral trends, and demand for travel insurance.

Domestic travel is leading the way for many travelers this summer, with 42 percent of global citizens planning to holiday within their own country. This trend is particularly pronounced in China, where 59 percent of travelers favor domestic trips, reflecting a preference for cost-effective travel options while enjoying local landscapes and supporting the domestic tourism industry.

For Chinese travelers, cities (44 percent) are the top choice for domestic travel, while neighboring countries (18 percent) and Europe (14 percent) are the most popular international destinations.

Rising travel costs remain a defining challenge in spending plans. However, demand for holidays remains strong. Chinese travelers, in particular, are planning higher per capita travel budgets for this summer compared to most of the other countries, despite a noticeable decline in holiday spending expectations in Europe and North America.

Technology is increasingly driving travel planning, with artificial intelligence playing a significant role, especially in China and India. An impressive 88 percent of Chinese travelers are already using or planning to use AI tools to assist in their travel planning.

China Tourism Academy estimated that in 2026, domestic travelers will total over 6.9 billion person-times, up 6 percent on a year-on-year basis; while domestic travel spending will reach 6.68 trillion yuan ($984.3 billion), 5 percent higher than the same period last year.