Prices of the tourism products provided by travel agencies in Karamay have dropped by 10-50 percent since the traditional Lantern Festival in mid-February, Karamay Daily reported.

Xue Jiao, manager of the China Youth Travel Service, said the prices of tours to Europe have dropped the least while those to popular Spring Festival destinations such as Thailand, Taiwan and Hainan have been cut by more than a half.

"A trip to Hainan starting on the first day of the Spring Festival holiday cost more than 10,000 yuan ($1,540), but the current price is 3,000-4,000 yuan," Xue explained.

Things are similar in other travel agencies in Karamay. "It is common for tourism products to have the year's lowest price after the Spring Festival holiday; the prices will not rise until the May Day holiday on May 1," said Xue.

Edited by Peter Nordlinger