China's outbound travel sector is projected to surge in 2026, with as many as 175 million international trips anticipated, driven by expanded visa-free policies and a stronger yuan. However, visits to Japan from Chinese tourists could decline by almost 50% due to escalating political tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. Analysts predict that South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand will remain the most popular destinations, while newly introduced visa-free routes are expected to increase travel to Europe, Africa, and other regions.