Development patterns and cooperation paths of tourism industry within the China–Mongolia–Russia Economic Corridor

Abstract

Strengthening tourism cooperation in border areas along the China–Mongolia–Russia Economic Corridor (CMREC) are important and challenging, under “Belt and Road” (B&R) initiative. Research has constructed a tourism competitiveness evaluation model including three dimensions and based on six factors: natural resources, cultural resources, tourism market, social economy, traffic facilities, and policy support. The results show the spatial characteristics of tourism competitiveness ordered as Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei of China, Northeast China, Northwest China, Russian Siberia Federal District, Mongolia, Russian Far East Federal District, and Russian Ural Federal District. Data show that the average tourism competitiveness of the three areas in Northern China are 2.69 times those of the three Russian areas, and 1.74 times those of Mongolia; at the same time, the average tourism competitiveness of Mongolia is 1.54 times that of the three areas of Russia. Based on the evaluation result, this study proposes a theoretical framework for a competition–cooperation model for tourism within the CMREC. Cluster analysis shows that the seven areas are comprise of absolutely dominant regions, comparatively dominant regions and comparatively weak regions. Tourism strategies are proposed in this study, based on the theoretical framework for a competition–cooperation model.