Expo causes sharp surge in travel costs

Trend expected to continue throughout summer months

SHANGHAI - Expo 2010 Shanghai visitors will likely see a 20 percent jump in travel agency fees in the Yangtze River Delta Region before additional increases in the coming months.

Suzhou Youth Travel Service Company sales manager Zuo Jing said a day trip to Shanghai from Suzhou costs 238 yuan ($35) per person on weekdays and up to 258 yuan on weekends, which is 40 yuan more than during the same period last year. A two-day weekend trip with stays in a three-star hotel will cost 758 yuan and a five-star hotel will cost 858 yuan.