Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

Difficulty in organizing tours to Europe has made local travel agencies turn to Asian tours, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today.
Skiing in Hokkaido, Japan and shopping in Hong Kong and Singapore at the year-end have generated strong local popularity.
The four-day tour to Hokkaido, priced at 7,880 yuan (US$949), was promoted in the city more than two months ahead of its 2005 snow festival. Considering the price hikes in air-tickets and local reception fees, charges for the Hokkaido tour are not high, said Liu Ruiming, with the outbound department of Shanghai China International Travel Service Co Ltd, adding that tourists will stay in five-star hotels and enjoy luxury meals there.
Shopping tours to Hong Kong and Singapore will kick off at the end of this month, with both DIY and package tours offered, according to local travel agencies.