Less than two months away from the Spring Festival, sales on travel websites start to hit a seasonal high. As the influence of Chinese New Year expands, international tourism also helps to introduce this indispensable cultural heritage to every corner of the world, which means in 2019, more Chinese people choose to spend their holidays overseas.

Big time for family trips

According to the statistics posted by Ctrip, one of the biggest platforms for travel products, the top 10 most visited countries by Chinese tourists will be Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the United States, Malaysia, Philippines and Italy.

"There are two major interests shown among Chinese tourists," Wang Zhenyue, general marketing manager of U-tour, another major online tourism platform, said. "One is for ice and snow, so they will go to Alaska, Northern Europe or Canada. The other is for heat and sunshine – Egypt, Turkey, Japan and Spain are all good choices."

Over 70 percent of travelers decide to have a family vacation abroad. "The bookings on our website have risen 32 percent compared with the Spring Festival season last year. And the prices are 10 percent higher," said Zou Qingling, outbound tourism manager of Lvmama. "Some of our packages to Europe or the US have already been fully booked."

Flexible schedules favored

Though the holiday officially spans Feb 4 to 10, many choose to leave their office in advance or postpone the return date. In this way, they will manage to avoid the crowds at the airports, and save a considerable sum on hotels and flight tickets.

If you haven't planned anything yet, here is an important tip – leave before Jan 31 or after Feb 7. The most expensive time to travel is between Feb 2 and 6, with a whopping average of over 10,000 yuan per person.

Different venues, same rituals

Family trips pay special attention to tradition and rituals, especially during the most conventional holiday in Chinese culture. "Many people still believe that Spring Festival is about family and the joy of reunion," said a management member of Caissa Touristic.

To create a homey experience overseas, the company designs a variety of events including a New Year's Eve dinner on the Nile, making dumplings at a Parisian castle, and a Chinese New Year gala at a five-star hotel in Amman.

World-famous landmarks also receive a Spring Festival makeover. From Feb 2 to Feb 17, Universal Studios Hollywood will dress its cartoon characters in traditional Chinese costumes. Visitors can also relish Asian pastries and share New Year resolutions under the wishing tree.

For all the globetrotters during the Spring Festival, have a great time with your family. For many others who celebrate it at home, enjoy your homecoming. If you haven't made up your mind, it's never too late to try something new!