Shenzhen people had to pay more for most of the outbound trips during the coming National Day holidays, the Shenzhen Economic Daily said Sunday.

This was disclosed at a Saturday tourism recommendation meeting participated by more than 20 Shenzhen-based travel agencies.

The costs of trips to Australia and New Zealand would increase the most, while trips to South Africa, Japan and South Korea would also be more expensive during the holidays than the current levels, the report said.

The prices for tours to European destinations will not lift. Some routes will even have a price drop.

Compared with the past summer, the price for an eight-day tour to Australia will be 15,400 yuan (US$1,900), a 30 percent price hike, or 3,600 yuan, according to a travel agency. The tour is expected to highlight a shearing performance and an opportunity to meet kangaroos and koalas.

The price for an eight-day tour to South Africa will rise from the current 10,490 yuan to 12,300 yuan, 17 percent higher. However, a 12-day tour to South Africa, Egypt and Dubai will remain the same at 23,530 yuan.

A seven-day tour to Japan will cost 8,500 yuan, with a 6 percent price increase. The price of a five-day tour to South Korea will rise from 4,480 to 5,580 yuan, 22 percent higher than now.

An eight-day journey to four northern European countries will charge 15,000 yuan. Tourists will take a direct flight to North Europe. The spotlight of the trip will be a luxury yacht sea time.

The report also said that Shenzhen would not be greatly affected by Japan's tightened visa policy towards Chinese tourists. Group visa applications to Japan or Europe have seldom been rejected, according to the report.

(Shenzhen Daily September 12, 2005)