Japan, S.Korea to be top destinations

Japan and South Korea are proving to be the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists during the upcoming May Day holiday, according to local travel agencies.

Zhang Nan, a 29-year-old woman living in Beijing, said she had planned to visit South Korea during the three-day holiday, but is yet to confirm a booking, because "agencies told me all their products to the country were fully booked weeks ago". Zhang said she was inspired to travel there by a recent relaxation in visa conditions.

Ctrip.com International Inc, China's largest online travel agency by market share, confirmed that the validity period of multiple-entry visas to South Korea will be prolonged from one or three years to five years starting from Monday, and that visa applications will be accepted from more types of travelers, depending on their professions.