Three Shanghai travel agencies have banded together to restart trips to Thailand's tsunami-hit Phuket Island over the Spring Festival holiday.

And for Chinese nationals heading for Europe or Down Under, several new services are being offered to make posting security bonds easier.

Shanghai international Travel Service, Shanghai China Youth Travel Service and Spring International said they are now developing a low-price Phuket package that will begin on February 11, two days after the start of the Lunar New Year.

"Tours to Phuket are usually 1,000 yuan (US$120) more expensive during the Spring Festival. But this year, we will offer a price that will be no higher than at other times during the year," said Wu Derong, general manager of the Shanghai China Youth Travel.

Four- and five-day trips to the resort island cost 4,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan in non-holiday periods.

If the group tours do set out on schedule, they would be the city's first since Phuket routes were closed following the December 26 earthquake and tidal waves that ravaged the Indian Ocean.

Shanghai's airlines have not restarted direct flights, so air service would be handled by Thai Airways.

Jason lu, marketing administrative executive of the Thavorn Hotels and Resorts Phuket, said 70 percent of the damaged buildings on the island have been rebuilt.

"Except for BangTao and Patong beaches on the west shore of Phuket and Phi Phi Island off the south, most parts of the Phuket were not stricken by the tsunamis," he said.

The other significant development for vacationers was announced yesterday at the opening session of the World Travel Fair 2005 at the New International Expo Center in Pudong.

China construction Bank said it has begun providing credit certification for travelers to Europe and Australia.

In the past, Chinese tourists were required to post a refundable sum ranging from 80,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan with their travel agents to guarantee their return to China.

Certification will also be available for a 700-yuan fee from Shanghai Oriental Pawn Co Ltd, which will allow customers to post houses, vehicles, jewelry or antiques as collateral.

(Shanghai Daily January 21, 2005)