Railway to Leverage on the Tourism Industry to Increase the Number of the Ridership for the Intercity Train Services

Abstract

The railway is critical for economic and regional development. The emergence of the railway in the 19th century was critical to developing the transport network. This transportation system has increased the number of reachable destinations, improving mobility and connectivity that facilitates the smooth conveyance of people and goods. Nevertheless, intense competition from other modes of transport, such as road and air transport, resulted in declining railway usage as a preferred form of transport. Nonetheless, tourism is generally seen as a productive sector dedicated to creating income from people’s travelling activities and staying away from their home environment. Even though tourism is crucial for economic development, it negatively impacts the environment and ecosystem. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential of the intercity railway in the tourism initiative to fulfil the objective of increasing its ridership and revenue. The study employed the qualitative approach utilising field surveys and discussion with key informants. The findings highlight the significant potential of integrating railways into tourism for encouraging people to utilise trains to travel while concurrently promoting community-based tourism destinations and supporting sustainable tourism. Railway and community-based tourism can promote tourism destinations and contribute to sustainable development.