Airbnb bets big on Spring Festival boost

Airbnb Inc, a United States-based home-sharing service provider, estimates that outbound travel by the company's Chinese mainland users will account for 71 percent of its total bookings during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, with Japan and Southeast Asia being the favorite destinations.

Tokyo, Osaka, Bangkok and Kyoto are favored by Chinese mainland travelers, while Sydney and Melbourne in Australia and Queenstown in New Zealand are among the top 10 outbound tourist destinations for the first time, according to Airbnb.

The peak season falls on Feb 17 and 18, the second and third day of the Lunar New Year, as Chinese tourists typically take a trip after finishing their family reunion dinners. The outbound family trips will take up 31 percent of total outbound travel.