By Du Guodong

    BEIJING, June 7 -- Chinese students' interest in overseas study tours have seen a marked decline this summer, as the spread of the H1N1 swine flu epidemic has made students reconsider their plans.

    According to an official with the state-owned China International Travel Service, many students are turning to domestic summer camps as alternatives. Shanghai, Hong Kong and China’s northeastern provinces are reported to be the summer’s hot destinations.

    “The cold market for overseas study tours has fueled a boom for domestic summer camps,” the official said.

    Concerned about a wave of cancellations from worried parents and students, many travel companies have offered financial and health-related guarantees for students journeying abroad.

    “Those who have registered for overseas tours before June 20, and are found to have contracted swine flu within three days of their return will be entitled to a compensation of a 100,000 yuan,” pledged the Nanhu International Travel Service Tuesday.

    The move is seen as a last attempt to induce more students to journey abroad, which are lucrative programs for travel operators.

    (Source: Global Times)