Tragedy may prompt cruise industry revamp
The horrific loss of life in the Eastern Star disaster highlighted a range of problems facing tour operators on the river. Now, some experts are calling for a root and branch reorganization of the industry. Tan Yingzi reports from Chongqing.
As the longest watercourse in China and the third-longest on the planet, the Yangtze River is famous for its long, rich history and beautiful scenery. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), emperors frequently boarded wooden ships to cruise along the river and inspect their territory.
In recent years, cruises on the Yangtze have grown in popularity, and at one point they were as popular as those provided by operators on the Nile in Africa, the Mississippi in the United States and the Rhine and Danube in Europe.
