Delivery drones boost appeal of scenic spots

At the heart of a scenic site, where takeout delivery services by motorbike riders are unavailable, tourists can still hail a drone for deliveries. It's not a scene from science fiction but a reality at some of the scenic sites in China.

Tourists at the two popular attractions in Shenzhen, Guangdong province — Window of the World and Splendid China — can place orders with nearby shops that are delivered by unmanned aerial vehicles. From making an order, it took them less than 15 minutes to get their delivery. The service once hit the headlines of local media, news portal Jiemian reported.

The two scenic sites are among the pioneer tourist attractions where delivery services by drones are open to the public. Their air delivery routes are operated by on-demand service provider Meituan's UAV arm.

Ten central government departments jointly released a policy at the end of 2020 to encourage high-quality development of tourism by combining the sector with the internet. According to the policy, tourist resorts and scenic sites rated 4A or above are to realize artificial intelligence upgrades by 2025, when information technology will become a crucial force to drive the tourism industry's growth.

Riding the wave of a smart cultural tourism industry, drone services are gaining acceptance in scenic sites in other parts of the country, providing convenient traveler experiences.

Another contributing factor to the growing use of drones in scenic sites is the emerging trend of "improvised vacations". These feature temporary decision-making, local exploration and niche experiences, which requires travel flexibility and convenience.

Changes in people's lifestyles and their perceptions of tours and improved smart tourism services help to make for such improvised vacations, industry insiders said.

In tune with changes in the tourism market, on-demand delivery services by drones are providing a new option for tourists.

During the May Day holiday, drones were in full swing at Window of the World. They delivered food and beverages, including milk tea and sushi, as well as wet wipes, diapers and other personal items. They served millions of orders on a daily basis, China Tourism News reported.

A tourist survey found that nearly 70 percent of the respondents believed UAV delivery services could improve their travel experience, according to the newspaper.

"With upgrades in various commercial formats, people have a greater desire for more flexible travel and more in-depth exploration of their tourism destinations. As a result, leisure holidays and local life needs are becoming increasingly integrated," Wu Ruoshan, a guest research fellow at the Tourism Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China Tourism News.

"Consumers can gain diverse life experiences through rich offerings on local platforms," Wu said.

Due to space limitations, catering services in scenic sites are generally affected in terms of variety and quantity. Yet drone flights can help to expand the reach of nearby service providers.

Mao Yinian, an executive at the Meituan UAV business arm, said the latest drone of the company has made substantial improvements in environmental adaptation. It is capable of providing service in more than 97 percent of cities across China.

Since its first delivery order in 2021, Meituan drones have fulfilled some 167,000 delivery orders.