Home-stay possible for SH World Expo

Residents of one neighborhood in Shanghai are considering opening up their homes to World Expo visitors. If the idea is approved, home stays will be legal in Shanghai for the first time ever. But while residents are enthusiastic, some foreign visitors have concerns.

As the owner of a two bedroom flat, 65-year-old Cheng Shuchu and his wife were one of the first families to agree to open their home. The retired couple is willing to offer their best bedroom for visitors to stay in during the World Expo. But their motive is not financial.

Cheng Shuchu said "If visitors, in particular foreigners, stay in our house, it is the best way to learn about what urban life is like in Shanghai, isn't it? And we can also make friends globally and understand different cultures. "

The couple's Linfen Community in north Shanghai's Zhabei District is setting up home stays on a trial basis. So far, more than 30 families have expressed a willingness to open their bedrooms.

The city hopes home-stays can accommodate some of the 70 million visitors expected during next year's event. The city could receive up to a million visitors on busy days, but only has enough hotel rooms to accommodate half of them.

Given the uniqueness of each family, Shanghai is now legislating to standardize home stays, in terms of price, service and quality. While many of the foreign visitors we interviewed say they are interested, home stays however, may not be their top choice.

One foreign visitor said "I don't speak any mandarin, so our concern is to be able to communicate. "

One foreign visitor said "I reserve on Internet. It's not very easy to find. "

One foreign visitor said "Reputation, convenience, amiability, location. That kind of things. "

During last year's Olympic Games, 600 families in Beijing opened their apartments for home stays, charging 400 yuan a night. But their average occupation rate was only 50 percent, far lower than the 80 percent rate among luxury hotels.

Officials are investigating the feasibility of home-stays, and are expected to pass a new law to regulate the business by the end of this year.