Shanghai is launching a series of services to help Chinese tourists go abroad for sightseeing and fun.

The Oriental Pawn company said Shanghai travelers could leave their properties as security, such as houses, cars and jewelry, instead of giving expensive cash deposits to travel agencies.

Chinese visitors to Europe have to lodge between 50,000 to 100,000 yuan (US$6,000 to 12,000) as security.

The pawn company is working in partnership with Shanghai Jinjiang International Travel Co Ltd and Shanghai China International Travel Service Co Ltd.

"We are seeking co-operation with more travel agencies," a spokesman said.

Also, banks in Shanghai are considering similar services with travel agencies.

"We will offer verifications of personal savings and credit in the near future. Therefore, travelers don't have to provide cash or deposit certificate to the agencies," said Huang Yong, assistant general manager of the Credit Card Center of China Construction Bank in Shanghai.

He said since the bank debuted its renminbi-US dollar credit cards in August 2003, which can be used worldwide, customers had spent 540 million yuan (US$65 million) by the end of last year and cash-withdrawal on credit card stood at nearly 200 million yuan (US$24 million).

Huang predicted that a total consumption value of 1.2 billion yuan (US$144.58 million) would be made in 2005 as more countries allow Chinese tourists to visit.

The success of the pawn operation was announced at the four-day World Travel Fair 2005, which opened in Shanghai on Wednesday.

At present, 63 countries including 15 European countries, allow Chinese tourists to visit.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen tourist authorities in south China's Guangdong Province are launching schemes to lure more overseas visitors.

"We are working on various schemes to boost the morale of local travel agencies and want to put every possible resource to provide ever better services to attract foreign visitors," said Chi Xiongbiao, director of the Shenzhen Tourism Bureau.

To target a larger number of overseas tourists, the city is working on the feasibility of becoming a destination to international cruise liners.

"We would like to build a cruise liner base in eastern Shenzhen to host overseas passengers," said Chi.

Working closely with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote Shenzhen's tourism resources in the overseas markets, Chi's bureau will help the local tourism community take advantage of the opportunities arising from the operation of Disneyland in neighboring Hong Kong, which is due to open in September this year.

"It's a challenge, but meanwhile it creates big opportunities for us since Hong Kong may not have the capability to cope when visitors flood in. Shenzhen could accommodate these visitors," Chi said.

Shenzhen hosted more than 1 million overseas visitors in 2004.

It is expected to make 40 billion yuan (US$4.8 billion) in tourism income this year - an increase of 5.1 per cent year-on-year. Tourism has been one of the pillar industries of the city, which attributed to about 11 percent to the city's gross domestic product.

(China Daily January 21, 2005)