BEIJING, Feb. 8 -- An estimated 3.34 million Shenzhen residents plan to travel during the Spring Festival holidays, with an average expenditure of 2,188 yuan (US$264) per person, the Daily Sunshine reported Monday.

The figures were revealed in a recent survey conducted by the municipal statistics bureau and the tourism bureau. The number planning to travel had incr eased by 3.4 percent over the same period last year, said officials in charge of the survey.

Figures from the survey show people with travel plans accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total residents. About 1.18 million will travel in private cars.

Trips inside the province are still popular, attracting 68.4 percent of travelers, up by 5.4 percent. About 31 percent will join one-day trips in the city, down by 6.8 percent over the same period last year, the survey shows.

Another 27.4 percent chose trips to other provinces, an increase of 3.4 percent. Northern parts of China such as Beijing and Northeast China are preferred destinations.

The survey found that only 4.2 percent had chosen trips abroad. Those planning to travel outside the city would spend 5.75 days.

The travelers are expected to spend a total of 7.3 billion yuan, an increase of 1.3 billion yuan over the same period last year.

Visiting friends and relatives is the main reason for traveling, the survey says.

Many people chose to start their trips before the holidays, trying to avoid the travel peak, while others will travel between Wednesday and Sunday.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily)