VIRGIN Atlantic’s new flight from London to Shanghai has encouraged more operators to use the city as an alternative to Hong Kong as a gateway to the rest of China.
Several operators are also offering twin-centres combining Shanghai with Hong Kong, as there are good air links between the two and both offer visitors a high standard of hotel accommodation.
Kuoni product manager Linda Miles said:”Virgin’s service will do a lot to promote travel to China, and it makes it easier to offer Shanghai as a two-centre holiday with Hong Kong, or a three-centre including Beijing as well. I can see Shanghai becoming a rival to Hong Kong.”
Miles said that in spite of rising air fares to Hong Kong, the former British colony was likely to remain the key gateway to China for the time being.
“Air fares to Hong Kong have gone up, but hotel rates are so good that now is an excellent time for people to go there,” added Miles.
She said rooms in Hong Kong cost about 50% less now than in 1997. “We are selling extra nights at the Metropole for £19 compared to £38 in 1997, and extra nights at the Harbour View for £64 for the year 2000 compared to £122 in November 1997.”
The Destination Group is adding tours of China to its new Far East brochure due out at the end of the month, using both Shanghai and Hong Kong as entry points.
Clients on touring itineraries will also have the option of flying into one city and out of the other.
Itineraries range from two to four-day trips from Hong Kong along the Pearl River Delta to more extensive tours of China covering all the major tourist centres.
Sales and marketing director Neil Gregory said there will also be some off-the-beaten-track holidays for more adventurous travellers.
British Airways Holidays is also considering offering more two-centre packages combining Hong Kong with Shanghai, Beijing and Xi’an using BA’s partners in the Oneworld alliance.
BAH product manager Mandy Miller said:”The alliance between BA, Cathay Pacific and (regional carrier) Dragonair has made flying between Hong Kong and the rest of China quite easy.”
She said BAH may also add a cruise from Hong Kong to either China or Vietnam to its year 2000 Worldwide programme due out early next month.
Asia specialist Premier Holidays said it is trying to increase sales of two and three-night excursions from Hong Kong to Shanghai as well as to Guilin and Kunming.
General manager Asia Paul Tilling said the operator had seen a 151% increase in forward bookings for Hong Kong this year compared to 1998. “China business remains quite slow,” said Tilling. “We would like to see demand return for our China touring product.”