Tourists in Shanghai will no longer be required to apply for visas to Russia, if they sign up for package tours at the city's travel agencies.

Russia announced three months ago that it would waive visa requirements for Chinese tour groups with more than five people. The decision is being implemented this month, in time for the National Day holiday.

The major travel agencies which provide outbound package tours are all eligible for organizing visa waiver groups, but they must cooperate with designated travel agencies in Russia, said Chen Suiqin, general manager of outbound tours department of Shanghai China Travel International.

But because of limited seats available on flights from Shanghai to Moscow, tourist numbers during the "Golden Week" are not expected to soar.

China Eastern Airlines and Aeroflot Russian Airlines are the only carriers flying from Shanghai to Moscow.

The price of Russia-bound package tours is about 7,000 yuan (US$864) for five to seven days, but it can climb to 8,000 yuan to 9,000 yuan during the "Golden Weeks" in May and October.

Some people who signed up for the Russia tour during this National Day holiday still applied for visas, since they did not know when the waiver would take effect.

(Shanghai Daily September 21, 2005)