Focus on new transport options at Beijing forum

Electric and alternative-energy vehicles. Mobility sharing and integrated mobile payments. Mobility management and transport planning.

These were among the topics discussed at a smart-tourism workshop in which Chinese cities and six European destinations shared experiences in Beijing recently.

The event was part of the Civitas Destinations project initiated by the European Union to develop resource-efficient and competitive transport systems. The European destinations that attended include Funchal, Portugal; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands; Valletta, Malta; and Elba, Italy.

"The fact that Beijing hosted the workshop speaks volumes about the importance of China's big tourism market," says Wang Guohua, director of the Beijing University of Technology's Institute for Cultural and Creative Industry.

The program would help China improve its transport-design philosophy and evaluation, and support major transport projects, Wang adds.

He points out tourism transport isn't just about physical roads and rails but also should incorporate cultural elements.

The growing number of elderly tourists increases demand for convenient, human-oriented and comfortable transport.

The Civitas Destinations project's EU-China coordinator, Julia Perez-Cerezo, points to pollution and congestion as major challenges in destination cities.

She believes China could benefit from Europe's mechanism that integrates different parties, such as governments, schools and neighborhood associations, through the program.

"But when it comes to IT and application of new technologies to transportation and electric vehicles, China is much more advanced," she says.

"So, both sides could gain."

The Chinese side will be invited to another Civitas Destinations project in Europe next year.

"China should exchange (transport-development experiences) with Europe and other countries with its own intellectual property and brands," Wang says.

He believes Chinese enterprises could also help European destinations to better cater to the needs of the growing influx of Chinese tourists.