Sales of tour packages to this summer's soccer World Cup have
failed to live up to expectations, with hefty fees keeping local
fans away, several Shanghai-based travel agencies said.
Spring International Travel Service Co. and Shanghai China
Travel Service Corp. are two of the only agencies in the city
claiming to have tickets for China's first three games in South
Korea in June.
Spring International first launched a five-day package tour to any
of the three cities - Seoul, Gwangju and Seowipo - for 11,800 yuan
(US$1,422) in February. Reacting to poor sales, the company has
rolled out various schemes - ranging from 5,900 yuan for city to
26,800 yuan for three cities - in the past two months.
So
far, only 700 fans have registered with the agency, still 300 short
of the 1,000 tickets it ordered from the China Football
Association.
Shanghai China Travel Service Co. is in a worse situation because
it received tickets from the CFA much later.
It
first offered a four-day package tour to any of the three
destinations for 9,800 yuan in late March, but few were interested.
Last week, it began offering a two-day package tour for 5,900 yuan
and that, too, may change.
"Local fans who could afford the high prices have already gone to
Spring International," moaned Chen Suiqin of Shanghai China
Travel.
"We believe a two-day outbound tour is too short so we are
discussing a five-day tour by ship," Chen added.
Fans can also opt for other agencies, including Shanghai China
International Travel Service Co., which have limited tickets
provided to them by the sponsors and available for about 8,000 yuan
as part of a five-day package tour, including one game.
China, in Group C, plays Costa Rica on June 4 in Gwangju, Brazil on
June 8 in Seogwipo and Turkey on June 13 in Seoul.
Locals attributed their lack of enthusiasm to the high prices.
"The charge has increased three-fold - too expensive," said Eric
Jiang, a local fan. "I would prefer to stay at home and watch the
live telecast rather than endure a tiresome trip, eat disagreeable
food and live in an ordinary but expensive hotel."
But the agencies attributed the high charge to a hike in lodging,
dining and transportation fees in South Korea.
"The CFA has set the price according to the charges in South
Korea," said Jiang Weihao of Spring International Travel
Service.
(eastday.com April 28,
2002)