Travel firms to get back 50% deposit

The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) will return up to 70 percent of the deposits of travel agencies to help them cope with the fall in the number of tourists because of the global financial crisis.

Inbound travel firms usually have to deposit have to 100,000 yuan ($14,500) with the CNTA, while the amount for outbound agencies is 1.6 million yuan ($233,000).

The CNTA uses the deposits to compensate tourists who suffer losses or meet with accidents during tours because of travel agencies' faults.