Employees using close holidays to take longer break
- Source: Global Times
- [08:27 July 30 2010]
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A customer inquires about trip options Thursday at a travel agency on Xizang Road Middle. Photo: Cai Xianmin
By Ni Dandan
City employees are asking their bosses for vacation leave at the end of September to take advantage of a unique chance to enjoy a longer vacation as the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Holiday fall close together this year.
Local travel agencies said that residents are trying to maximize their annual leave by using personal days to bring the Mid-Autumn Festival (September 22 to 24) and the National Day Holiday (October 1 to 7) together, allowing them to travel abroad for up to 16 days.
"This year, we estimate that 30 percent more people will be doing this to make the most of their holiday since the dates are very close this time," Yang Dong, vice manager of the outbound tourism department of Shanghai Jinjiang Travel Company, talked to the Global Times Thursday.
Yang said that Europe and North America are the most popular destinations currently being booked by customers.
Residents earlier suggested that both vacations be combined to form an extended holiday this year, but authorities ruled out the possibility, saying that employees need to strike a balance between work and rest.
But residents like Li Jun said that the two national holidays present an ideal chance for him to take a proper vacation.
"By taking six days of annual leave, I will have more than enough time to tour around Spain and Greece for my honeymoon," the man, who re-cently married, told the Global Times Thursday. "My wife and I won't have to be so rushed, and we'll come back well-rested and ready to work again."
With an eye on increased demand from customers looking to travel internationally this fall, local travel agencies said they are tweaking package schedules this year.
"Usually, we sell packages that depart the day the national holiday starts, but we're thinking of providing ones that leave a little earlier, and other ones that come back a little later," Zhao Dexiang, vice manager of the outbound travel department of Shanghai China International Travel Service Company, told the Global Times Thursday. "We're anticipating that travelers will be more flexible with their schedules this year."
