China News Service, Yinchuan, April 5th: From "retirement care" to "enjoyment of old age", Chinese seniors favor group tours
China News Service reporter Yang Di
"When I was young, I didn't have time. Now that I'm free, I want to go out and take a look before I can't walk anymore and regain my youth." He held a thermos cup in his hand, wearing the red sunhat uniformly distributed by the tour group, and hanging on his chest. There is a tag with name, phone number, carriage and other information written on it. 66-year-old Cao Ningsheng traveled with his wife in a group this trip. "I want to see the prosperity of Hong Kong and Macau."
Middle-aged and elderly tourists take tourist trains in groups. Photo by China News Network reporter Yang Di
On April 5, the Y173 "Rim West Train Tour" Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao tourist train organized by Lantie International Travel Service and Ningxia Railway International Travel Service was fully loaded with 606 tourists and departed from Yinchuan Railway Station for a 16-day journey.
In the waiting hall, there are many passengers wearing uniform red sun hats like Cao Ningsheng. 63-year-old Chen Shengli told a reporter from China News Service that he was traveling in a group with friends this time. Most of them were elderly people. "There are 40 of us in a group, and everyone knows each other." Chen Shengli said that his pension is more than 5,000 yuan per month. , “I don’t have any burden, I just want to go out and have some fun.”
Middle-aged and elderly tourists take tourist trains in groups. Photo by China News Network reporter Yang Di
The silver-haired people who have time and money have an increasingly strong desire to travel. The "China Domestic Tourism Development Annual Report (2022-2023)" shows that in 2021, people aged 45-64 will travel 902 million times, accounting for 27.80%, becoming the largest source of tourists in the tourism market.
The growth of the elderly tourism market has also spawned a series of customized travel products for the elderly group. Zhou Hongqiang, head of Lantie International Travel Service and Ningxia Railway International Travel Agency, said that in view of the characteristics of the majority of elderly tourists, the "Rim West Train Tour" tourist train has the characteristics of "fast travel and slow travel", "arrives at one stop" and "no transfers during the journey". The tour time of scenic spots will be extended, and on-board doctors and full-time tour guides will be provided throughout the journey to ensure the safety of tourists.
Middle-aged and elderly tourists wait in the station. Photo by China News Network reporter Yang Di
Different from the "traveling alone" advocated by young people, the elderly prefer group travel. The "Insights on the Travel Behavior of Silver-haired People in 2023" released by Ctrip shows that group travel is the favorite way of travel for the elderly. Related orders in 2023 will account for nearly half. Cao Ningsheng said that he is not good at making travel guides, and it is more convenient to join a group; 68-year-old Guo Xiaoqiao said that it is more comfortable and safer to be in a group, surrounded by people of the same age, and they can chat together; 73-year-old Zhang Xinghua believes that the elderly group The pace of travel is slower and more relaxed, and I can "keep up".
Tourists take tourist trains. Photo by China News Network reporter Yang Di
As China's aging process accelerates and social and economic development occurs, the material and spiritual needs of senior citizens have further increased, and new elderly care models that integrate cultural tourism, health care and other elements are gradually taking shape. Taking Ningxia as an example, the local civil affairs department has signed a cooperation framework agreement on residential care for the elderly with the civil affairs departments of 13 provinces and regions, including Fujian, Guangdong, Shanxi, and Yunnan, to establish a counterpart cooperation and collaborative promotion mechanism for residential care for the elderly.
"With the formation of relevant supporting policies and service measures, the new elderly care model represented by 'living in elderly care' has become more and more popular with the elderly." Song Yadong, director of the Aging Work and Elderly Care Services Division of the Ningxia Civil Affairs Department, said that at present, relevant departments are further Promote the development of the elderly care service industry and provide personalized services to the elderly so that they can transform from "elderly care" to "enjoyment of the elderly." (over)