Guangzhou travel agencies gear up efforts for package tours to African countries after China's approval of the opening of tourist routes to an additional nine countries, including eight in Africa and one in western Asia.

The routes to the nine countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Jordan, will open December 15, according to memorandums of understanding (MOU) signed by the nine countries and the China National Tourism Administration.

According to the MOUs, Chinese travel services can start bringing tourist groups to the nine countries from December 15 after establishing cooperation and signed relevant contracts with their counterparts in these countries.

To date, 63 countries and regions have opened to China as outbound destinations.

Because there are few direct flights between Guangzhou and African countries, the cost of travel to Africa cannot be lower than 10,000 yuan (US$ 1,205) as tourists have to transfer in Hong Kong. The fares are mostly between 13,000 and 22,000 yuan, said insiders.

Zimbabwe and Kenya are expected to be the most popular destinations.
 
(Shenzhen Daily October 18, 2004)