THE price of outbound package tours during the Spring Festival holidays would increase by 20 percent, according to local travel agencies
Local agencies had completed bookings for package tours to Europe during the holidays, which start Feb. 2. Bookings are now being taken for tours to Southeast Asian countries.
With the economy recovering, package tours to Europe, the Middle East and Africa were in popular demand.
A five-day package tour to Thailand during the holidays was 4,500 yuan (US$676) per person, much higher than the 2,000 yuan per person on low-season days, said Yao Bin, manager of the Southeast Asia department of Shenzhen Comfort Travel Service Co. Ltd.
A five-day tour to Bali Island was 8,000 yuan per person, double the low-season prices.
Many people booked tours to Europe during the holidays for the cheapest prices possible in 2011 when there would be a large number of European exhibitions, which would drive up the costs of hotels and air fares, according to media reports.
The price of outbound package tours around Christmas had also increased 10 to 20 percent.
(Martin Li)
