New travel services in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are expected to boost tourism between the region and southeast Asian countries.

According to the plan, several travel agencies in Urumchi, capital city of the autonomous region, will supply charter flights for 320 Thai tourists both from and to Bangkok on January 21 next year, the eve of the traditional Chinese spring festival.

According to Liu Lingang, president of the Xinjiang Great Nature International Travel Service, development of the charter flights between the two sides with China Youth Travel Service is aimed at drawing more Thai tourists to visit Xinjiang during their vacations for the Water-splashing Festival next April.

In 2000, more than 20 travel services in Thailand showed the interest in the sightseeing route of the ancient Silk Road when they saw it during their inspection tour of Xinjiang.

However, their interests were discounted for high cost of the flight for the tourists.

Some 1,000 yuan (US$120) is expected to be cut from the cost when the charter flights open, said Liu.

Charter flights once opened between Xinjiang and Malaysia but suspended service later because of the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) disease.

（Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2003）