Governance of red tourism in China: Perspectives on power and guanxi

Abstract

Because of its ability to harbor social values, norms, and beliefs, heritage is heavily politicized through tourism development. Despite the importance and universality of the politics of heritage in the tourism context, its political dimensions remain insufficiently explored. This study maps the major roles that governments play in China's red tourism development along a political hierarchy from the perspectives of power and guanxi, two decisive social concepts in China. The government's main roles are identified from both top-down (e.g. planner and designer, resource organizer and provider, and coordinator) and bottom-up (e.g. supporter, executor, and guanxi builder and maintainer) directions. Moreover, the underlying factors that shape these roles and associated issues are also discussed. Managerial implications with respect to public engagement and future research directions are recommended.