East Asian travel demand surges during Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays

The Mid-Autumn Festival and upcoming National Day Golden Week have triggered significant travel activity across East Asia. In China, the National Immigration Administration reported 6.709 million border crossings during the Mid-Autumn holiday, a 16.8% increase from the previous year. This surge is expected to continue into the October Golden Week, with many travelers utilizing bridge holidays to create extended trips of up to 13 days.

In Macau, the Tourism Office anticipates an average of 150,000 daily arrivals during the National Day holiday, with hotel occupancy rates expected to exceed 90%. Authorities have prepared various cultural activities, including international fireworks displays and drone shows, to sustain momentum. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, hotel bookings for the first three days of October are nearing full capacity.

However, the high volume of travelers has caused logistical challenges. In Taiwan, the High Speed Rail experienced record-breaking passenger volumes, with single-day traffic reaching 348,000 people. This led to severe congestion and reports of passengers from non-reserved seats entering business class carriages. Taiwan's Minister of Transportation, Chen Shih-kai, apologized for the congestion and stated that the ministry would work with rail operators to improve transport solutions.