Travel agency reservations for trips to Shanghai have surged in recent weeks during the run up to the opening of the Shanghai World Expo, despite some travel companies significantly raising their prices.

China International Travel Service Limited recently announced a 20 percent increase in fees for tour groups traveling to Shanghai.

The 2010 Shanghai Expo opens on May 1, and many travel agencies have warned tourists to avoid traveling during peak travel times (May 1 and 2).

According to the online ticket agency ctrip.com, reservations made in March tripled the number made in February, and the agency said they are receiving even more reservations in April.

"We're calling in more and more people to consult for trips to the expo," Yu Xiaoqing, an official for the Beijing Youth Travel Service's (BYTS) domestic department, told the Global Times Tuesday. "We're working around the clock."

BYTS has handled so many reservations that the company began telling its customers to travel to other cities, like Zhenjiang and Yangzhou to avoid crowds.

Yu added that BYTS has applied for chartered passenger trains during the expo to serve its customers. Travel agency prices have raised concomitant to price hikes for hotels and airline tickets.

"Airline tickets increased nearly 500 yuan ($73) after April 10, and hotel prices have already doubled," said Yu.

According to other online ticket agencies, like et-china. com, flights from Beijing to Shanghai on are still available, but discounted tickets are difficult to come by.