China's Pollution Debacle and Destabilization of Inbound International Tourism: A Critique

Abstract

China holds an impressive position as the world's third biggest country in terms of international tourist arrivals. In fact, the Chinese government is proactively promoting the tourism industry as an important source of national economic development. However, massive air pollution in tourist hotspots such as Beijing was an important factor impeding tourists' inflow in the year 2013. In fact, the beginning of the year 2014 was no better for Northern China when the WHO described China's smog as a “health crisis.” Though the Chinese government has undertaken numerous pollution-curbing measures, myriad challenges hinder this exercise. Against this backdrop, this article provides a critique of the impact of pollution on China's inbound international tourism scenario. It concludes that tapping tourism potential requires a healthy environment and an effective communication of environmental improvement as essential elements of a robust, farsighted tourism plan.