Airbnb: Wanderlust back on tourism recovery

Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, New Zealand and Australia are favored by Chinese travelers this summer, the senior executive said. In addition, Chinese tourists increasingly consider destinations such as Malaysia and the Philippines in Southeast Asia.

Chinese travelers are seeking more in-depth and immersive experiences as approximately half of the summer searches are for medium to long-term stays, spanning seven days or longer. On average, a Chinese traveler has searched to stay in more than one country during this summer, which shows people's desire to explore multiple locations during their travels, Airbnb said.

It is noteworthy that Generation Z travelers — those born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s — prioritize affordable yet authentic travel experiences. Approximately half of the room searchers are between the ages of 18 to 29 in China.

Moreover, the number of families traveling with kids has grown nearly four times compared to spring this year. "Some of our most popular family-preferred categories on Airbnb are amazing pools, beaches and beachfronts, national parks as well as lakes," Blecharczyk said.

The World Tourism Organization expects international arrivals will likely reach 80 percent to 95 percent of the pre-COVID levels in 2023, compared with 63 percent in 2022, despite lingering global headwinds.

Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said China's outbound trip segment is expected to see a robust recovery this year, and inject strong impetus into the prosperity of the country's tourism sector.