Taiwan tour costs ¥10,000

A 10-DAY package tour to Taiwan is costing around 10,000 yuan (US$1,429), according to Shenzhen Port China Travel Service yesterday.

The cost includes admission to tourist attractions, food, accommodation in five-star hotels, logistics services, insurances and tips for local tour guides, the agency said. It is the only operator in Shenzhen authorized to conduct Taiwan tours.

Travel expenses from Shenzhen to Guangzhou, one of the mainland cities with chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits, are also included in the cost. Prices quoted by Guangdong travel agencies may vary due to different accommodation costs.

The price was announced after China Southern Airlines forged a deal Monday in Guangzhou with Taiwan's China Airlines to launch direct weekend chartered flights starting July 4.

China Southern Airlines said prices of economy class return tickets from Guangzhou to Taipei could be as low as 1,480 yuan for group travelers.

The deal was signed after mainland and Taiwan signed an historic agreement June 13 that allows regular air links. Under the pact, the mainland and Taiwan will operate 18 round-trip charter flights on weekends.

Some residents questioned the cost which they said was much higher than they had expected.

"A three-day trip to Taiwan from Hong Kong costs at most HK$2,000 (US$256) and a seven-day trip to the Maldives costs 8,000 yuan, which is cheaper than a Taiwan tour," said Huang Jian, a teacher at Nanshan Qianhai Middle School, who travels to Southeast Asia countries during his holidays.

The high cost was partially caused by the extra distance because the flights must take a circuitous route to pass through Hong Kong airspace.

"Routed over Hong Kong, it takes about two hours and 40 minutes," said Liu Shaoyong, CEO of the airline, who will pilot the first chartered flight to Taipei on July 4.

The agency said they could also offer customers other options such as five- or seven-day trips at prices ranging from 6,000 to 7,000 yuan.