An increasing number of Chinese are traveling to South Korea during the International Labor Day holiday, according to Xinhua news agency.

Dun Jidong, an official with China Travel Service, said, "Although the cost to travel to South Korea is a bit higher than to many other destinations, Chinese tourists still flock to book tickets to go."

It is estimated that more than 5,000 Chinese tourists have been organized by 10 travel agencies in Beijing to travel to South Korea during the weeklong holiday.

South Korea was granted Approved Destination Status in 1998 by the Chinese government. Since then there have been frequent tourist and cultural exchanges, Xinhua said.

Last year, about 480,000 people visited South Korea, the fourth-most-popular travel destination with Chinese tourists. It is estimated that the figure will grow to 550,000 this year.

Korean Air, one of South Korea's leading airlines, will introduce flights to Xiamen, Jinan, Yantai and Yanji in China early this month, adding four more to the seven cities with direct flights to South Korea.

The Korean National Tourism Organization has set up a center for Chinese football fans. The center will provide information such as tickets and traveling. The KNTO also opened a 24-hour Chinese-language hot line for Chinese tourists.

"The World Cup is just a beginning. We aim to develop long-term coope-ration with China. You can be sure many Korean people will want to travel to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing," a KNTO official told Xinhua.

Zhang Yingxin, a teacher at Beijing Number 4 High School, has planned a trip to South Korea with his family.

"My wife and son will not have time to go when the World Cup Games start, so I will go by myself. But this is a family trip," Zhang said.

( eastday.com May 1, 2002)