Hangzhou hopes to attract more tourists during the 2010 World Expo. So it is giving away free travel vouchers in Harbin, Shenyang, Tianjin, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Guangzhou.

Each coupon set is worth 750 yuan. Coupons are redeemable at major tourism spots in Hangzhou, such as West Lake, Thunder Peak Pagoda, Xixi National Wetland Park, and Tiger Running Spring. The Hangzhou Tourism Committee is expected to issue up to 5.3 million yuan worth of travel coupons in Harbin.

Li Hong, director of Hangzhou Tourism Committee, said, "Coupons not only can help us attract retail consumers, but also eventually make tour operators change their travel route designs. Then, at the end, more benefits will be brought to the tourism spots."

Qu Hua, president of Harbin Blue Sun Business Travel Agency, said, "There are lots of new tourist attractions in Hangzhou. Those could be very attractive to tourists from Harbin."

Liu Fengmei, general manager of Harbin Alejin Int'l Travel Service, said, "It's expected that over 500 tourists will take our charter plane service which we launched with our partner in Hangzhou."

Editor: Xie Fang

Source: China Daily