Price hikes expected on domestic tours
16/4/2004 17:35
Airfare increases of up to 25 percent as of April 20 have driven up
domestic tour prices for the coming May Day holiday. According to travel
agencies in Beijing yesterday, prices will hit a record high for the golden week
holidays, the Beijing Morning Post reported.
According to a new air-pricing
regulation, as of April 20, the economy-class airfares of some airlines will
increase by 25 percent, and from May 10, airfares of all the airlines will rise
with no discounts being offered.
In the May Day holiday, for example, an
air-ticket from Beijing to Shanghai will increase by 170 yuan (US$20.5) from the
previous weeklong holidays.
Moreover, the Civil Aviation Administration of
China (CAAC) will restrict the operation of red-eye flights during the weeklong
May Day holiday, preventing travel agencies from chartering planes.
Due to
the operations of faster trains, travel agencies must reorganize their
schedules. As a result, their operating costs will increase, said an industry
analyst.
"Many price sensitive consumers are choosing to travel this month
rather than in the golden week holiday. There are more than 300 people on tours
every day over the past week, said Yang Yang, general manager with the Beijing
Spring International Travel Service Co.
Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news
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