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A German tourism company has stopped receiving Chinese tourists traveling in economy groups as of this month to avoid possible loss.

CAISSA Touristic (Group) AG, one of a number of European companies catering to Chinese tourists, said it had suspended cooperation with local agencies on the "10 countries in 15 days" package. It is currently priced at around 13,000 yuan (US$1,566).

The rise of the euro against the US dollar is a major reason forcing the company to stop the offer, according to Chen Zhongyang, chief representative of the CAISSA Shanghai office.

"Usually we fix the prices in dollars with our Chinese counterparts three months in advance. At the current exchange rate, we actually earn less," he explained. "The narrow profits we hoped to draw from the package has turned out to be losses in October."

If the euro climbs higher, losses could grow to 400 yuan per person, he added. In September, however, the company could still earn 100 yuan a tourist.

Large local agencies that have business ties with CAISSA, despite its retreat, said they will look for new partners and go on selling the package.

Both local businesses and the German agency said the desire to travel to so many places in such a hurry had gradually lost popularity, especially with the coming winter.

According to Shanghai International Travel Service, there were at least two groups a week, consisting of more than 100 people, choosing the 10-country package in September and during the National Day holiday. The price then was over 14,500 yuan. Now the number of customers has decreased by half.

Cold weather in countries such as Germany and Switzerland discourages many people, said Zhao Dexiang, general manager of the company.

"Since most Chinese are not interested in skiing, Europe is currently less attractive," he said, adding that the firm has already designed other products consisting of only two to three destinations, mostly countries close to the warmer Mediterranean region.