People who hoped to enjoy a European tour over the May Day holiday will be disappointed.

The visa application procedure is complicated and impossible to finish before the holiday. 

So far, the China National Tourism Administration has not issued a formal notice for the European tour.

But tours to Southeast Asia will be as popular as ever, and prices during the May Day holiday are a bit lower than those during the Spring Festival.

A six day, five night group tour to Malaysia, for example, only costs around 6,000 yuan, or 725 US dollars. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2004)