Domestic flight bookings up about 8 per cent and domestic package-tour reservations up about 10 per cent, survey finds

Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative behind stronger economic ties and passenger traffic growth between the two regions, say industry experts

China Trading Desk has launched China Marketing AI, a new platform designed to help travel retail brands understand and capture Chinese traveller demand before departure.

China’s consumer market in April 2026 is becoming more connected, more competitive and more precision-led. From rising outbound travel demand and emotion-driven beauty purchases to the growth of wellbeing, smart tourism and AI-shaped brand discovery, the market is rewarding brands that can build trust and reduce friction. As China Trading Desk marks its 8th anniversary, this briefing explores the signals shaping China’s next phase of consumer growth.

China’s homestay market is entering a more mature phase, shaped by stronger cross-border travel, more selective demand, pricing pressure, digital competition and the rise of experience-led, brand-driven stays.

China marketing reveals how steady consumer recovery, older internet users, AI-led media shifts and performance-first ad spending are reshaping China marketing trends for 2026.

This week, China’s social media is centring on three major themes: May Day travel planning, platform governance, and global geopolitical risk. Weibo and Douyin are driving attention around Labour Day departures, flight cancellations, ticketing fairness, food-delivery compliance, and route planning, while Baidu and Zhihu add stronger focus on tariff refunds, extreme weather, trade, diplomacy, and travel safety.

China Trading Desk has launched a new platform, China Marketing AI, aimed at helping travel retail and duty-free brands better understand how Chinese traveler demand is formed across domestic digital platforms before departure.

Endata’s 2026 AI and Tourism Industry Report shows how AI travel planning, smart tourism, hotel operations and scenic-area services are reshaping China’s travel industry.