Applications for visas soar before holiday

Travel platforms say nation's residents show rising demand for overseas trips

Chinese travelers have shown ever-increasing enthusiasm for traveling abroad this year, and the trend is on track to become more prominent for the rest of the year, fueling a growing demand for visa applications.

The upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, which land at the same time this year, form an eight-day period from Friday to Oct 6, and more Chinese visitors are foreseen to venture overseas during the holidays.

Thailand, a popular destination for Chinese residents, announced earlier this month that it has decided to waive visa requirements for Chinese travelers for five months, which will begin on Monday and run until Feb 29, 2024.