Canal Heritage Tourism Utilization Models: Experience and Inspirations from the Grand Canal (Beijing Section)

Abstract

Tourism utilization is an important means for revitalizing canal heritage. Exploring the utilization models of canal heritage tourism is the prerequisite to realizing the sustainable development of canals. Based on previous studies, this study defines two important models of community concentration and corridor expansion. Through an empirical comparison of the Old City section and the Tongzhou section along the Grand Canal in Beijing, this study systematically explores the theoretical mechanism and law of the differences between the two models of tourism utilization. Utilizing a collection of the literature, field investigations, and in-depth interview data and using the theory of a figure-ground relationship, this study discusses the characteristics of the two models of canal heritage tourism utilization and the reasons for their differences. The results reveal that community-concentrated and corridor-expanded models show great differences in the development process, heritage and tourism resources, and spatial organization. The formation of the differences results from location, economic, cultural, ecological, and accidental factors as the driving forces and the continuous self-adjustment of the areas along the canal. This study provides theoretical constructs and policy recommendations for optimization and sustainable canal heritage development.