Visits to Macao, HK popular during holiday ( 2003-10-07 09:41) (China Daily)
China's facilitated individual travel policy on Macao- and Hong Kong-bound
travels has gained widespread support from the public.
According to a recent survey conducted by the Beijing-based Horizon Research
Group Inc, at least half of the population surveyed in Guangzhou, capital of
South China's Guangdong Province, said the policy, which allows self-guided
tours in the two regions, has brought convenience to planning holidays in those
areas.
Another 37.5 per cent of the surveyed believed the policy was "very good''.
In the past, mainland residents could only travel in the two regions by
joining a tourist group.
But this July, the country's public security department adjusted the old rule
and began a trial run of the new regulations first in some cities in Guangdong
such as Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan and Jiangmen. Then residents of Guangzhou,
Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Huizhou in Guangdong started enjoying the new rules as of
August 20, while Beijing and Shanghai residents began to benefit from the policy
on September 1.
According to the new policy, people are required to provide only residential
cards and identification cards when applying for the passes to Hong Kong and
Macao.
An evening view of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor
October 5, 2003. [Reuters]
The process is much simpler than before, when people were demanded to submit
all materials that can prove the purposes of their trips.
The survey covered 250 people between the ages of 18 and 60 in Guangzhou's
five districts, 25.9 per cent of whom planned to go out travelling during this
National Day holiday.
Among those who intend to travel overseas, 80 per cent chose Hong Kong and
Macao as destinations.
The survey also found that nearly 60 per cent of these travellers to Hong
Kong and Macao will go by themselves, instead of joining tour groups.
The survey reported that the new policy has also changed the role of tourist
services, who are turning to becoming agents booking air tickets and hotel rooms
for these tourists.
In another development, the Macao Tourist Office foresaw an influx of some
120,000 tourists from the mainland during the week-long vacation.
Office Director Joao Mannuel Costa Antunes said that the National Day travel
stimulated by the policy is estimated to see a 15 per cent increase of tourists
over the same period last year.
