Han Ximin

TRAVEL to Tibet during the May Day holiday is expected to hit a record low in terms of number of travelers, although travel agencies are offering attractive itineraries.

Although Tibet is expected to reopen to domestic tourists May 1, figures from local travel agencies were less satisfactory as few people have signed up for package tours.

"We started promoting Tibet tours after the ban was lifted April 23, but so far we haven't received any clients yet," said Zhang Tiantan, a marketing chief of Shenzhen Happy International Travel Service who is responsible for the market in southwestern China.

"It looks almost impossible to organize a tour to Tibet this May Day holiday because so far no one has come to sign up the trip, which costs around 6,000 yuan (US$857) in Shenzhen," said Li Jian, a manager of Shenzhen Overseas International Travel Service.

Li said people still seem to be concerned about the situation in Tibet, where there was unrest in mid March. The shorter holiday of just three days was also a factor. The company has been offering an itinerary of five days with four flights to Lhasa.

Other travel agencies in Guangdong Province lowered prices to attract tourists. The West Holiday Travel Service in Guangzhou offered an itinerary of six day with three flights at just 3,999 yuan. To attract travelers, GZL International Travel Service Co. offers five-day tours with four flights to Lhasa at 2,898 yuan, the lowest price, which also includes admission to the Potala Palace.

Besides Tibet, package tours and long-distance trips to major tourist attractions on the mainland are expected to drop by an average of 30 percent at prices generally 15 percent lower during the May Day holiday, compared with the same period last year, Shenzhen travel agencies said.

Overseas tours were greatly affected by the holiday adjustment, down 30 to 50 percent, said Zhang Li, a manager of Shenzhen Port CTS Co.

In contrast, short tours to Hong Kong and Macao, cities within Guangdong or in neighboring provinces will see a boom during the May Day holiday.

Zhang's company sells more than 100 set tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park daily.

"One reason is because of the appreciation of yuan and many local holidaymakers plan to shop in Hong Kong,"said Zhang.