Chinese tourists itching to travel and still frustrated by being kept home in 2003 by the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) are sure to enjoy a growing number of available destinations and domestic and international flights this year.

Kenya is among a number of foreign countries actively staging promotions and urging Chinese to get up close and personal with wildlife like the giraffe, baboon and zebra and its national folklore this year.

China and Kenya have signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday for the implementation of a plan for organizing group travel by Chinese citizens to Kenya.

Besides Kenya, seven other nations will soon sign similar agreements.

That will enhance friendships between Chinese and Africans, and enable Chinese to know more about Africa and promote mutual tourism.

Tourism agencies say Chinese can realize their "African dream" visits with a minimum package cost of 12,000 yuan (US$1,445).

As for Europe, Chinese tourists can now apply for a special tourist visa via designated travel agencies and travel freely within 12 nations in Europe if they are granted a visa. The agreement will come into effect on May 1.

Austrian Airlines Group announced it will include Shanghai in its flight service network beginning from April 29 with the operation of three flights a week from Pudong International Airport to Vienna.

In the meantime, the number of flights from Vienna to Beijing will also be increased from four to six this summer, said Josef E. Burger, chief commercial officer of the Austrian Airlines Group.

Other European airlines such as Air France and Lufthansa also have decided to launch or add flights to cater to Chinese traveling to Europe.

Four tourist regions in the west of France made a promotional presentation this week in Shanghai. The regions highlighted were Bretagne Nouvelle Vague, Region Center, Western Loire and Poitou-Charentes, all of which boast traditional attractions such as beautiful seaside and high quality French wines.

To meet needs of growing passengers, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China yesterday announced a new flight arrangement for this summer and autumn.

According to the plan which will start on March 28, 21,467 domestic flights and 1,918 international flights have been arranged per week. The numbers increased about 12 percent compared with the same period last year.

At home, tourists can have more choices this year as another 26 attractions with excellent landscapes, as well as rich cultural or historical heritages that were recently written into list of "national key scenic spots" designated by the central government.

The list includes 177 sightseeing attractions nationwide, including the well known the Great Wall and Summer Palace.

Among the newly added key spots are the Guangwu Mountain-Nuoshui River scenic belt, which covers about 1,270 square kilometers in northeastern part of Sichuan Province. The zone is famous for virgin forest, biodiversity and natural landscape protection, sharp mountains and spacious limestone caves.

(China Daily March 18, 2004)