Shanghai Declaration

“Profitable Bus and Coach Operations in or with China”
Shanghai, 16 March 2005

SHANGHAI DECLARATION

Efficient transport systems are the force driving successful economies. Collective passenger transport is a key component in the promotion of travel and tourism at national as well as international level and needs a sound regulatory framework which facilitates rather than hampers operations if it is to meet the requirements of future generations.

Travel and Tourism encourage peace in the World by bringing people together, helping them to learn and appreciate the beauties and richness of the world’s heritage and the culture of different nations. On a global scale, they generate some 10.4 % of GDP and roughly 215 million jobs.

China is a fast-growing market with a population of 1.3 billion, whose mobility depends heavily on the country’s fleet of 2.8 million commercial passenger road vehicles, its 226,000 bus and coach operators and the 13.6 million employees in its road transport sector.

China’s expenditure on travel is currently growing by 27% per year and tourist departures are expected to grow to 100 million by 2020.

The “Approved Destination Status (ADS) Agreement” between China and the European Union, which entered into force on 1 May 2004 has facilitated travel document and visa requirements for Chinese citizens entering the European Union and will encourage travel abroad further. The travel and tourism industry should respond to this positive development with an energetic and ambitious entrepreneurial spirit.

In the aftermath of the tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 in the Indian Ocean, the world has seen how dependent this region is on tourism for the economic development and employment in Asia. As such, all measures must be taken to help this industry get back on its feet.

Even in the extremely difficult situation after the tragic event, buses and coaches played a vital role, together with partners from other transport modes, in evacuating inhabitants and tourists and bringing in aid teams. Today, they are contributing to the regeneration of economic and tourist activity in the region.

The IRU, UITP, CRTA and Busworld, representing providers of high quality, safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally-friendly collective passenger transport including transport by bus, coach and taxi, are committed to work together, to help the travel and tourism industry seize the new opportunities unfolding in China by pursuing the following main goals:

Promoting collective passenger transport modes worldwide;
Uniting people and bringing about a better distribution of wealth by encouraging the further development of tourist activities;
Encouraging economic and social development, as well as environmental protection, whilst helping developing markets to emerge, for the benefit of all;
Providing sustainable mobility for all, as well as a better quality of life, through the promotion of collective passenger transport including transport by bus, coach and taxi.
Encouraging travel by Chinese citizens abroad through closer cooperation between transport operators and tour operators to ensure the best possible conditions to receive Chinese tourists and through familiarisation tours of Chinese tour operators and travel agents in foreign destinations.

The increased contribution of travel by bus, coach and taxi, in particular to tourism and society, can only be realised if professional and business organisations work closely together with governments, civil society, other modes of transport and other industry sectors.

For the collective passenger transport industry to achieve the above goals, its government partners must:

Recognise the importance of coach tourism in the economy and for sustainable development, by encouraging increased bus and coach travel as a sustainable mode of passenger transport.
Ensure sustainable development by developing public transport, including by bus, coach and taxi as a true and valuable alternative to the private car in China by discouraging increasing private car use, by investing in efficient and user-friendly public transport networks and infrastructure and by guaranteeing open, fair and transparent rules governing the provision of road transport services.
Bring public transport services as close to the citizen’s doorstep as possible, by further integrating urban and inter-urban bus and coach services, by encouraging inter-modality and by facilitating interchange, multi-modal ticketing and passenger information prior to and during the journey and in the long term through urban planning aiming for higher density development.
Encourage foreign tourism in China and travel abroad by Chinese citizens, notably by making passports and visas more readily available.
Continue to improve the safety of vehicles and their passengers by implementing international agreements aimed at improving the safety of vehicles and its passengers through improved design, technology and materials and through ensuring better professional training of operators and drivers around the world through IRU Academy Accredited training institutes.
Implement policies that support road transport, by reducing the fiscal burden placed on the sector, by harmonising legislation and facilitating border-crossing.
Providing incentives to accelerate implementation of the road transport and tourism industry’s initiatives and best practices to improve the sustainability of tourism and transport, the quality of service offered and passenger rights.
Ensure collective passenger transport operators are fit to compete in the modern market place by eliminating sources of unfair competition between the different passenger transport modes, by introducing open, fair and transparent rules for the establishment of transport companies and by allocating operating licences on equal terms to both nationals and foreigners; and introducing stringent rules for accessing the profession to ensure that the highest safety and standards and quality of service will be assured.

In calling on government partners to play their part, the IRU, UITP, CRTA and Busworld, pledge to work together for a better future with a view to drive economic growth and employment through the development of trade and tourism in China, Asia and around the world.

Shanghai, 16 March 2005

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