Although Croatia, Hungary, Pakistan and Cuba will be added to the list of countries open to Chinese tourists on Saturday, local tour agencies see little chance of travel groups going to the four countries next month due to the high costs.

"I think there won't be a group until Christmas, and the first travel upsurge, if there is one, will not come until the weeklong Spring Festival holiday next year," said Chen Shuiqin, vice president of the Shanghai China Travel Service Outbound Tours Co.

It does not help that locals have scant knowledge about those countries, she added.

"Also, take Croatia for example, there is no direct flight from China, which adds to the cost. And none of the four nations have consulates in Shanghai, which means trouble getting visas."

Her opinion was shared by most travel agency managers.

"There are few marketing possibilities if we set a single-stop itinerary for countries such as Croatia and Hungary," said Gao Yunchun of the China International Travel Service's Beijing head office.

"We are considering packing them with Russia, which is supposed to be granted Approved Destination Status by the National Tourism Administration soon, though it is not officially confirmed," said Gao.

So far, 28 countries have been granted ADS, a system unique to the Chinese mainland. Most of them are Asian countries, with four from Europe, three from Africa, and one from South America, plus Australia and New Zealand.

More countries are on the waiting list, including a number of Latin-American and European Union countries.

"We look forward to the day when more countries, which actually interest Chinese people, will be granted ADS so that we can vary our itineraries," said Yu Weihua, vice president of Shanghai China Travel Service Outbound Tours Co.

He indicated that many ADS countries are not on its tour package list. "Malta, for instance. No agency has offered a plan so far for the country owing to high costs and it wouldn't attract Chinese tourists unless entire Europe is officially open to them," he said.

(eastday.com October 30, 2003)