Thai travel deals pulled

Time : 2009-04-09

THE Shanghai Tourism Authorities have told two local tour agencies to stop publishing misleading ads about excessively low-price packages to Thailand.

The ads were for packages by Shanghai CYTS Tours and the Spring International Travel Service Co Ltd, costing just 99 yuan (US$14) and 699 yuan, respectively.

On its Website, Shanghai CYTS Tours offered a four-day package to Thailand for 699 yuan, and people who bought one could get one free. It said the first five who booked would only be charged 399 yuan. The package also includes stay in luxury hotels with free meals.

The Shanghai Tourism Quality Supervision Office said the ads were misleading.

The tourism office found that the price did not include tax or fuel surcharges and tourists had to take part in activities during the tour that cost an extra 1,000 yuan.

All those extra charges meant that the package would cost more than 2,700 yuan per person, said tourism officials.

It was a similar story with Spring Travel's 99 yuan package, which, once the extra charges had been added, cost at least 1,500 yuan.

The two agencies said they would explain the full details of all the hidden costs to anyone who want to book.