China’s senior retirees are becoming a driving force behind the growth of outbound tourism.
According to Trip.com data, travel bookings made by retirees aged 50 and above increased by 34% year-over-year by the end of 2024. Outbound travel bookings in this demographic grew by more than 60%, with seniors accounting for nearly 20% of all outbound tourists, cementing their status as a key segment of the travel market.
A Guizhou travel agency reported that retirees made up an impressive 60% of its outbound travelers last year. Most of these travelers were retired employees from government agencies and public institutions aged between 60 and 65.
Looking back on 2024, nearly 40% of all domestic tourists were aged 45 and above. Data from Trip.com’s FlightAI, an aviation intelligence platform, revealed that 90% of retirees traveled 1-2 times in the first half of the year, proving that retirement is often the start of an adventurous chapter in life.
According to Trip.com, the top 10 countries visited by the silver-haired group are: Japan, United States, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom, Canada, and Vietnam.
The post-pandemic travel trend of private group tours has gained traction, particularly among silver-haired travelers, who prefer small, comfortable and quality experiences.
Additionally, four- and five-star hotels are their top accommodation choice. This preference has driven their per capita online travel spending 30% higher than the average.
