China's NDRC Proposes Expanding Supply of Senior-Friendly Tourism Trains and Cruise Products

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 10, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held a press conference in its "Striving for the 15th Five-Year Plan" series, proposing to increase the supply of senior-friendly tourism trains and cruise tourism products and to expand railway and waterway tourism transport services for elderly passengers. Zhang Luqin, Deputy Director of the Price Department of the NDRC, stated at the conference that the relevant work will align with the travel and leisure needs of the elderly population, enrich tourism transport products, and build high-quality residential elderly care destinations.

The policy proposes increasing the supply of senior-friendly tourism trains, organizing cross-regional tourism routes through the railway passenger transport network, and connecting train transport with scenic areas, tourism cities, and residential destinations along the routes. Relevant products can be designed around the travel characteristics of elderly passengers, coordinating train schedules, stop stations, along-route connections, and destination services to expand the route and product options for railway tourism transport.

The NDRC proposes increasing the supply of cruise tourism products to enrich maritime tourism options for the elderly population. Cruise tourism involves vessel operations, port berthing, passenger embarkation and disembarkation, shore-side reception, and land transport connections. Expanding product supply requires cruise operators, ports, and tourism service agencies to strengthen coordination of routes and supporting services.

This policy deployment incorporates railway tourism trains and cruises into the cultivation of senior consumption formats, involving transportation sectors such as railway passenger transport, cruise shipping, and port tourism services. Currently, the NDRC has not yet announced the number of new tourism trains, specific routes, cruise sailings, or port supporting facility construction plans. The subsequent supply scale and implementation arrangements still require further action by relevant enterprises and local authorities.

At the press conference, the NDRC also proposed supporting various regions in organizing senior cultural and artistic performances, increasing the supply of online audiovisual and stage art products, and improving the construction of residential elderly care destinations. The related cultural and elderly care services will serve as supporting content for tourism transport products.