About 2.68 million Shenzhen residents plan to take sightseeing tours in and outside the city during the Spring Festival, according to an official survey.

About 70 percent would travel in Guangdong Province, said the city's holiday office, which co-sponsored the survey.

About 1 million will visit parks and other tourist attractions in Shenzhen.

The survey also shows a 4.7 percent increase in the number of drive-yourself tours over the Spring Festival last year.

A majority of those who plan sightseeing will hit the road Friday, the second day of the lunar new year, according to the survey. They plan an average stay of 5.44 days outside the city.

The survey shows the average budget for sightseeing tours is 2,222 yuan (US$270), down 770 yuan from last year's Spring Festival. Officials expect local tourists to generate 6 billion yuan in tourism income, a dramatic decrease of 2 billion yuan over last Spring Festival.
 
 (Shenzhen Daily January 20, 2004)