Tour operators evaluate Maglev's potential
22/1/2003 14:58
Shanghai city tour operators are considering whether to include the new
magnetic levitation train in their packages to attract more out-of-town
tourists, the Shanghai Morning Post said today.
Some travel agencies plan
to promote the train line as one of Shanghai's signature spots at the upcoming
international tourism fair in Berlin, Germany. Some plan to include the
high-speed train line in their spring promotions in other Chinese
provinces.
The Sino-German developed line, the first commercial magnetic
levitation train line in the world, started trial operation this year. The line
connects Pudong International Airport in the east and Metro line 2 at Zhangjiang
in the west, which links to downtown Shanghai.
Demand for a spin on the
Maglev has increased since the line started running, according to a senior
official surnamed Jiang of Spring International Travel Service's East China
division.
Officials with Shanghai China International Travel Service Co.
Ltd also said tourists from home and abroad have shown growing interest in the
new train line.
Confident of the Maglev's potential, many local tourism
agencies believe it will become a major local tourist spot, helping to boost the
local tourism industry.
An official surnamed Wei with the Lingkong
Agricultural Park is also keen on the idea, saying it will help develop tourism
along the train line.
Wei said his agricultural park, near the Pudong
International Airport, plans to arrange shuttle buses to the airport to carry
train travelers there to visit the park.
However, many travel agencies
have misgivings.
The 150-yuan (US$18) cost of a ride on the Maglev will
be the biggest obstacle, analysts pointed out.
The price is high in light
of the total cost of a 3-day East China tour, usually around 700 yuan, they
said.
Shanghai Daily news
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