Large price cuts offered on overseas tours
16/9/2003 17:00
Domestic travel agencies are offering large price cuts on overseas
package tours in order to attract more travelers in the coming National Day
holiday, eastday.com reported today.
According to China Travel
International Ltd, prices of the eight-day
tour to Australia were cut from
13,800 yuan (US$1,663) during the
National Day holiday last year to 10,500
yuan this year.
"We have just introduced an eight-day tour to South Africa
priced only
14,800 yuan, more than 1,000 yuan lower than usual," said Xu
Wei, with
the Australia-Singapore department of China Travel International
Ltd.
China Travel Service Head Office cut the prices of a five-day tour
to
the Philippines from 4,580 yuan last year to 3,580 yuan.
"We offer the
price cuts in a bid to boost the overseas tourism
market," said Dun Jidong,
director with CTS Head Office.
This week is the last one for domestic
residents to book their overseas
trip for the National Day holiday, so
travel agencies are slashing
prices in order to take a shot at the market,
said an industry analyst.
Today and tomorrow is the last two days to handle
visa affairs for a
tour to Japan at the National Day holiday. Those who want
to travel to
Hong Kong and Macau must sign up by Thursday this week; and
those headed
to Southeast Asian countries must sign up by next
Tuesday.
Japanese tours have gained popularity in the coming weeklong
holiday,
while Southeast Asian tours have lost charm.
Starting on
November 1 this year, Chinese citizens are allowed to
travel to Croatia,
Hungary, Pakistan and Cuba, with the total destinations
for Chinese
travelers increasing to 28 around the world to date.
Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news
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