ALTHOUGH nearly 3.55 million Shenzheners are expected to leave the city during the coming National Day holiday, a majority of them will visit places within Guangdong Province, a survey conducted by the city's tourism bureau revealed yesterday (Sep 27).

The bureau polled 1,019 residents, 700 from within the special economic zone, during the past week. The survey found that locals have planned their tours more rationally this Golden Week, making sure they avoid the huge crowds on roads and at popular scenic spots.

Nearly 32 percent of the respondents said they would travel outside Shenzhen but inside Guangdong, and their top choices were cities within the Pearl River Delta region like Zhuhai, followed by mountainous regions in the east and north of the province like Heyuan and Qingyuan.

As many as 41.9 percent of the respondents - up from 33.4 percent in the same period last year - planned to stay in the city, visiting theme parks and resorts like Dameisha Beach. To cater to that need, the local transport bureau will launch 10 additional bus routes from Luohu, Futian and Nanshan districts to Dameisha in the east coast.

The number of those planning domestic tours outside Guangdong dropped by nearly 5 percent, and more than half of those going abroad will stop by Disneyland in Hong Kong.

More than 70,000 locals had signed up for package tours by yesterday afternoon, with the most popular destinations being the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hainan Province and Beijing.

Though the holiday lasts a whole week, only 15 percent of those polled said they would go on tours lasting six days or longer. Residents who travel will do so for three and a half days on average, similar to last year's figure.

Intimidated by traffic, only 18.3 percent of the polled said they would drive to their destinations.

As nearly half of the polled traveled during the May Day holidays, many still remember crowds at scenic spots, heavy traffic on roads, unsatisfactory service, and a price hike in hotel rooms and other fees by as much as 50 percent.

Since this year's Moon Festival falls on Oct. 6 and coincides with the holiday week, 37.1 percent of the polled said they would make trips to visit relatives and friends, up 2 percent from last year.

Meanwhile, tickets for trains leaving before Oct. 2 on most routes are running out, and 90 percent of the seats on flights to popular destinations like Urumqi, Lijiang, Huangshan, Sanya and Ho Chi Minh city before Oct. 1 have been booked.

Bus tickets are comparatively easier to get, but people are advised to book a day in advance.

Editor: Wing