Scenic spots have huge potential for A-level development
According to statistics, in 2013, China had 3.2 billion domestic tourist trips for the whole year, among which A-level scenic spots received over 3 billion visitors, and the top 50 by scale were basically all 4A and 5A level scenic areas. With various concepts such as strong tourism nation, strong tourism city, and strong tourism county being proposed, scenic spots have increasingly become the main drivers of the national tourism industry, and premium scenic spots such as 4A and 5A level ones are the backbone of China’s tourism destinations.
However, realities such as “tens of thousands stranded at Huashan, Huangshan overcrowded with tourists, the Forbidden City packed with people, and the Great Wall bustling inside and out” across the country show that while the Chinese people have huge demand for tourism, they also indicate that the overall supply of premium scenic spots is insufficient and capacity pressures continue to grow.
In addition, in 2013, the average number of trips per person in China reached 2.5 times per year, while developed countries like the US, Japan, and South Korea have averages of 5–7 trips per year, indicating that a massive tourism demand market will soon accelerate its formation. All of this provides broad prospects for scenic spots to pursue A-level certification, with huge room for development.
Experts’ advice: Transportation and environmental protection account for 30% — A-level certification must give high priority
A-level certification is a major initiative. It provides standardized criteria for scenic spot management and will also bring substantial comprehensive benefits to the sites. But the entry threshold is as challenging as applying for World Heritage status, and the level of competition is no less fierce than “thousands competing to cross a single-plank bridge.”
According to the “Standards for the Grading and Classification of Quality of Scenic Spots,” the total score for evaluation is 1000 points, with transportation accounting for 140 points, resources and environmental protection 155 points, touring experience 210 points, comprehensive management 195 points, sanitation 140 points, tourism safety 80 points, postal and telecommunications services 30 points, and tourism shopping 50 points. Among these, transportation and environmental protection are not to be underestimated, together making up nearly 300 points, or 30% of the total. Therefore, experts suggest that scenic spots must pay special attention to these two indicators during the A-level certification process.
One of the important outcomes of this national training class on scenic spots’ A-level certification was the proposal of the “5A New Standard” for scenic area sightseeing vehicles.
Yutong’s “5A New Standard” Scenic Area Sightseeing Vehicles
Keeping up with the times: A-level certified scenic spots’ sightseeing vehicles should adhere to the “5A New Standard”
The so-called “5A New Standard” for scenic area sightseeing vehicles was proposed by Yutong, a leading domestic bus manufacturer, in collaboration with major famous scenic spots across China. It was developed through extensive research involving scenic area management, tourists, and experts. The research identified that safety, sightseeing visibility, comfort, environmental friendliness, and cost-efficiency are the most critical upgrade needs currently demanded by A-level certified scenic spots for their sightseeing vehicles. First, in terms of safety, emphasis should be placed on the configuration of braking systems, frame structures, and advanced designs; for visibility, full-visibility models such as the Dolphin sightseeing vehicle are preferred, offering a 55% wider field of view than ordinary buses; for environmental friendliness, pure electric models are the first choice, followed by natural gas-powered ones, and then diesel models equipped with engine thermal management systems, all aimed at reducing exhaust emissions and effectively protecting the scenic environment; comfort can be evaluated based on NVH noise reduction technology, spaciousness, and air quality; and cost-efficiency should consider engine thermal management, lightweight technology, and the ability to provide quality service.
Yutong 5A New Standard Scenic Area Sightseeing Vehicle with Extra-Large Space
Yutong 5A New Standard Scenic Area Sightseeing Vehicle with Panoramic Windows
What is the purpose of A-level certification? To increase scenic spot revenue. To achieve increased revenue, it is necessary to boost tourist traffic, scenic reputation, and visitor satisfaction. To make tourists more satisfied, investment in tourism transportation—especially sightseeing vehicles built to 5A-level standards—is essential. Especially now, when the “people-oriented” philosophy is at the core of the 5A concept, it is crucial to consider the perspective of tourists and provide more thoughtful services to meet their needs.
Yutong 5A New Standard Scenic Area Sightseeing Vehicles Offer Greater Passenger Comfort
Thanks to the government’s emphasis on the tourism industry, the number of scenic spots across the country has been continuously increasing in recent years, with quality steadily improving and a wave of scenic spot upgrades sweeping through. From the end of 2012 to the end of 2013, the number of national 5A-level scenic spots jumped from 145 to 175—an increase of 20%. The growth of 4A-level scenic spots has been even more rapid, with 198 newly approved 4A-level scenic spots recently announced online. This indicates that domestic scenic spots are moving toward higher-grade classifications. The introduction of the new “Tourism Law” also explicitly sets requirements for the safety and environmental friendliness of transportation tools at scenic areas. All of this shows that under the new circumstances, to achieve A-level certification, the standards for scenic area sightseeing vehicles must evolve accordingly.
To view more pictures of 5A New Standard Scenic Area Sightseeing Vehicles, please visit: http://www.yutong.com/zhuanti/ZK6900H1Z/