THE local travel trade community must be ready for a new format of tourism where youngsters travel to learn new things and gain experience.
World Research Travel Conference (WRTC) organising committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Khani Daud said young tourists were no longer merely interested in sightseeing and wanted to make sure they gained something from their travels.
“Industry players must be prepared to meet these demands and go the extra mile to offer these tourists more than a mere sightseeing experience.
“They have to be more creative and study ways of ensuring the expectations of these tourists, especially the younger generation, are met,” he said after the WRTC four-day conference in Penang at the Setia Spice Convention Center.
WRTC executive chairman Prof Yang Zhen Zhi meanwhile, said education-driven tourism is now trending in China and it represents 50% of the overall domestic tourism activities in the nation.
Yang said that China tourists now, particularly the young, want to sample a high dose of education when travelling; such as learning to cook a certain foreign or local dish.
They also like board games which can stimulate their mental capacity, he added.
Yang said that in China, education-based or ones which rely on much research, is driving its domestic tourism agenda.
“And the Chinese Government is recognising it by making it mandatory for students to travel twice a year.
“They must choose a field of study and they will earn credit points for it,” said Yang, adding that the youngsters must be accompanied by their parents or guardians for such visits.
Held under the theme “Research Travel - Opportunities, Synergies, Sustainability,” this year’s conference brought together a global network of experts to discuss the evolving landscape of research and study tourism. - November 8, 2024
