Following China's advisory on Sunday to avoid unnecessary travel to Nepal, tour companies and at least one airline are offering refunds for previously scheduled trips.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday urged Chinese citizens in Nepal to leave as soon as possible. Citing the unstable situation, the foreign ministry also suggested nationals to avoid travel to the country.

The Chinese Embassy on Monday began evacuating the 258 Chinese tourists and 259 Chinese employees in Nepal. The Tourism Administrative Commission also told travel companies to cancel Nepal trips due to the unstable political condition.

Shanghai Odyssey, the city's largest travel agency involved with travel to Tibet, Nepal and India, cut the six-day Nepal leg from a planned 13-day April 28 tour from Tibet to Nepal.

Customers who paid 13,980 yuan (US$1,744) per person for the full trip, received refunds for the Nepal section, said Zhang Bin, market manager of the Shanghai Odyssey Travel Agency.

He Jing, spokesperson of the Ctrip.com, said they also gave full refunds back to the 10 tourists who planned to join the Nepal tour.

Royal Nepal Airlines in Shanghai, which runs direct flights between Kathmandu and Shanghai on Wednesdays and Saturdays, said travelers also can get refunds back.

For the Labor Day holiday, the round trip costs 5,660 yuan with taxes and fees. Travelers who cancel their flights will lose the 600 yuan in taxes and fees.

The situation may change, however.

Responding to daily protests, Nepalese King Gyanendra yesterday morning promised a Constituent Assembly election in the reinstated parliament. Further protests were canceled.

But so far, Yao Shuoye, spokesperson for the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission, said as of yesterday, his agency hadn't received any change in policy.

Due to the improving political environment, both the Shanghai Odyssey Travel Agency and the Royal Nepal Airlines have suggested that customers wait until this Friday before canceling their plans.

(Shanghai Daily April 28, 2006)