Taiwan tours are expected to cost less for visitors from the Chinese mainland soon after yesterday's agreement on increasing direct flights.

Tour agencies in Shanghai believe there will be a reduction in the air ticket price, bringing down the price of tours.

"We have been waiting for the agreement for a long time," said Liu Xiaojun, an official with Shanghai CYTS Tours. "We will be able to pass the benefits on to our clients."

Jinjiang International Travel Service Co Ltd said they believed flights would increase in June or July, and the price of tour packages was also expected to drop then.

At present, most Taiwan-bound tour groups from Shanghai choose flights via Hong Kong, although direct flights between the mainland and the island began on December 15, because they are cheaper.

Travel agencies said Taiwan now is among the hottest tour destinations for Shanghai tourists.

By last week, about 18,000 tourists had left for Taiwan from Pudong International Airport this month, about twice the number for the same period in March, according to local tour agencies.

(Shanghai Daily April 27, 2009)