GUANGZHOU travel agencies receive a surge of bookings for trips during the weeklong Spring Festival holidays, which falls on Jan. 29.

During the three-day New Year's Day holidays, the West Holiday travel agency in Guangzhou received an average of 3,000 bookings a day, of which 60 percent were for outbound trips. The agency had sold half of its company's Spring Festival travel package plans.

According to the agencies, trips to Southeast Asia countries were the most popular with the 15,000-yuan (US$1,840) trip to Maldives was the most sought after.

Trips to Japan, South Korea and northern European countries to see snow were also popular for southerners.

The five-day skiing itinerary, priced at around 4,500-6,000 yuan, to Seoul, South Korea was the first choice among outbound trips for its low rates.

The travel agencies have reminded passengers to process visa applications as early as possible.

Editor: Wing