Travel agencies busy giving refunds
24/4/2003 16:57
Domestic travel agencies, which are facing mass cancellations for the
upcoming holiday, may be the biggest victims of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS), the Beijing Youth Post reported today.
The shortened
holiday announced last weekend pushed many Chinese to cancel travel plans,
dealing a heavy blow to travel firms.
Domestic package tours offered by
the China International Travel Service (CITS) have been suspended because no one
signed up, said a spokesman with CITS.
A little over 100 people have
booked domestic tours with the China Youth Travel Service (CYTS), compared to
over 2,500 in the same period last year.
"We received up to 30 calls
yesterday morning, mostly cancellations and requests for refunds," said Zhao Yi,
general manager of the domestic tour department of CYTS. "Everyone will receive
a full refund," Zhao said.
No penalties will be charged for cancellation
of overseas package tours, but visa processing fees cannot be refunded, said Li
Yan, a supervisor with the CITS. Tourists pay 100-400 yuan in visa processing
charges for overseas package tours and the money was remitted to embassies two
weeks ago, Li added.
Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news
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