The National Tourism Administration denied a rumor that two weeklong public holidays would be canceled, the Guangzhou-based Yangcheng Evening News reported.

Zhang Jianzhong, head of the policy and regulation department under the administration, said the administration decided to keep the May Day and National Day holidays after discussions.

Experts and specialists in the tourism industry had suggested canceling the two weeklong public holidays, allowing company employees to have two weeks' annual leave instead.

Statistics showed the revenue from the May Day and National Day holidays had not been increasing in recent years.

Consumers were becoming more discerning about where and how they travel in the weeklong holidays and some were even reluctant to travel in the holidays because of overcrowding, said Zhao Peng, a professor with Beijing Union University. The long holidays did not necessarily boost consumption, he said.

He suggested having flexible holidays according to people's preferences.

A Guangzhou resident, identified as Li, said all prices skyrocketed during the two public holidays, and every scenic spot was crowded with people. Li said he never traveled during the holidays.

(Shenzhen Daily December 8, 2004)