The second World Senior Tourism Congress with the theme of "Senior Study Tour for a Brighter World" opened in Yaitai, East China's Shandong province, on May 24.

More than 1,200 guests from 46 countries and regions attended the event.

An important part of the congress, the High-end Dialogue on World Senior Tourism, which focuses on the future development trends of senior tourism, was held on the same day.

A total of 12 experts and scholars from all over the world delivered keynote speeches on how to seize new opportunities and promote the healthy development of senior study tours.

François Vellas, president of the International Association of the University for the Aged, took the lead in analyzing the "three expectations" of senior tourism with the topic "the difference between senior study tours and general study tours".

"In Shandong, what we are doing now is also setting an example for the world," he said, " Everything we do is to meet the three expectations that attract the elderly to travel, which are safety, affordability and ecology."

Zhang Xiaolin, chairman of the China Association of Universities for the Aged, noted that one of the important tasks of universities for the elderly in China is to improve the sense of well-being and happiness of the aged through tourism and study tours.

"I hope that we can improve the standards for senior tourism through further development and promotion so that senior tourism and senior study tours  become desirable scenery throughout society," he added.

Zhang Mingchi, deputy director-general of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, briefed the guests on Shandong's scenic spots, history, culture and food.

"The elderly need to travel and tourism needs the elderly. Shandong has made full preparations for senior tourism. On the tourism map of China, Shandong has a good opportunity," he said, " Shandong has prepared a wealth of tourist meals, so that the elderly from all over the world are able to find suitable quality tourism products here."

Du Yingjie, president of the Shandong Association of Universities for the Aged, shared the "8S Study Tour Concept" with the participants, namely,which involves school, study, slowdown, service, safety, standardization, satisfaction and systemization. He further stated that senior tourism has great potential. It is an important growth pole for the tourism industry which requires cooperation from all walks of life.

The congress will last for seven days and will launch a total of 16 activities featuring senior tourism.

The event was hosted by the Shandong provincial department of culture and tourism, the Shandong Development and Reform Commission and the Yantai municipal government.

François Vellas, president of the International Association of the University for the Aged makes a key note speech at the second World Senior Tourism Congress on May 24. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Zhang Mingchi, deputy director-general of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism delivers a speech at the second WSTC in Yantai. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Du Yingjie, president of the Shandong Association of Universities for the Aged delivers a speech at the second WSTC in Yantai. [Photo/dzwww.com]