The inaugural Kolkata-Guangzhou IndiGo flight on October 26 was packed, as have been the rest since direct flights between India and China resumed. With China Eastern’s Delhi-Shanghai service beginning Sunday and IndiGo’s daily Delhi-Guangzhou flights from November 10, the travel sector is gung-ho about the new destination, made accessible just ahead of holiday season.
“China has made a strong comeback on the travel map, emerging once again as a destination of high interest among Indian travellers,” said Rajeev Kale, president & country head, holidays, MICE & visa, Thomas Cook India.
After a five-year suspension, flights between India and China are once again operating—at full capacity—signalling strong pent-up demand and renewed curiosity over one of Asia’s most diverse and dynamic destinations.
Flight services between the two sides were suspended during the pandemic in 2020, and remained shut consequently due to border skirmishes.
In October last year, the two sides firmed up a disengagement pact, after which a series of measures were undertaken to repair ties, including resumption of flights and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The return of connectivity marks a significant step toward rebuilding travel and tourism exchanges.
Air India, too, is preparing to relaunch services before the end of the year. At the time of writing, the average return fares stood at around Rs 28,000 for IndiGo’s route and Rs 60,000 for China Eastern’s Delhi–Shanghai service. With 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the second-highest in the world, and a blend of heritage and modernity, China is attracting Indian travellers seeking both cultural depth and contemporary experiences.
“Our expanded China portfolio has been curated to showcase the destination’s diversity—from the historical treasures of Beijing and Xi’an to the vibrance of Shanghai and the scenic beauty of Zhangjiajie and Guilin. Alongside leisure, China’s exceptional infrastructure and growing event ecosystem position it as a key market for corporate meetings and incentives,” said Kale of Thomas Cook India.
Agreeing with this, SD Nandakumar, president and country head, holidays and corporate tours at SOTC Travel, added: “The resumption of travel to China has reignited demand across leisure, business, and MICE segments. China continues to captivate Indian travellers with its cultural richness and iconic landmarks.
Our itineraries now combine marquee destinations such as Shanghai and Beijing with experiential locales like Chengdu, Chongqing, and the Avatar-inspired Zhangjiajie mountains. The positive response highlights the growing appetite for rediscovering China in new and meaningful ways.”
Other platforms are seeing parallel interest. A senior spokesperson at EaseMyTrip said, “With the resumption of flight connectivity between India and China, there has been an early uptick in demand, mainly from business travellers and students. The gradual reopening of routes has encouraged more movement for professional and academic purposes, signalling a cautious but steady return of traffic.”
EaseMyTrip is preparing to launch specially curated China tour packages spanning leisure, business, and MICE travel. “Each package will provide convenience, value and a seamless travel experience,” the spokesperson said. “With China emerging as both a cultural and commercial hub, we aim to meet the diverse needs of travellers while promoting smoother connectivity and tailored itineraries.”
The company expects pricing stability as capacity builds. “Airfares and hotel rates are largely back to pre-pandemic levels,” the spokesperson added. “As schedules expand, we anticipate further price stabilisation, creating a more consistent and value-driven environment for travellers planning trips to China.”
At Yatra Online, too, the outlook is upbeat. “We are seeing early signs of growing curiosity among Indian travellers toward Chinese destinations,” said Bharatt Malik, senior vice-president, air and hotel business. “There’s a visible uptick in searches and advance enquiries for cultural and leisure hotspots such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The easing of visa processes and better connectivity are helping revive confidence, especially among younger travellers and business professionals.”
Malik added that China could become “a trending outbound destination for Indians, particularly around festive and holiday periods like the New Year”. He said Yatra is exploring curated travel packages across leisure, business, and MICE segments, highlighting “China’s blend of modern cityscapes, rich heritage, and culinary appeal”.