Just a day after the State Department announced the coming Spring Festival holiday, most travel agencies in Beijing released prices for overseas tours. 

Trips to European countries have increased by around 2000 yuan (US$240) and tours to Australia and New Zealand have seen a hike of nearly 4000 yuan (US$480). The increase this year is much higher than usual.

During the Spring Festival, people tend to head for warmer countries and South-east Asian Countries are among the most popular. Thus, price hikes on these kinds of tours are quite common. For example, tours to the Maldives organized by China Youth Travel Service will all increase by 2000 yuan (US$240).

Prices of trips to the Southern Hemisphere like Australia and New Zealand have skyrocketed. People will have to pay 19,800 yuan (US$2,386) instead of the original 16,000 yuan (US$1,930) for a trip to these countries during the Chinese New Year. And the prices for European tours will also go up.

But the price change seems to have had little affect on people's enthusiasm for overseas travel, and many are already booking seats.

(CRIENGLISH.com December 23, 2004)