SHANGHAI—Trade tensions with the United States and a slowing economy are steering Chinese tourists to budget-friendly destinations closer to home for the Lunar New Year holiday, with more likely opting for Bangkok than Sydney or San Francisco.
The week-long holiday, which takes place this year in the first week of February, is one of China’s longest breaks; more than 400 million people are expected to travel across the country for family reunions, according to Chinese travel agency Ctrip, which estimates 7 million will go abroad.
