Tourism circular economy: Identification and measurement of tourism industry ecologization

Abstract

Environmental problems caused by excessively pursuing tourism economic activities have become increasingly prominent. The circular economy theory is one of the essential tools to solving tourism environmental problems. However, the sustainable process of the tourism industry, which is a linear process, usually leads to a particular gap between the sustainability assessment of tourism industry and the reality. This study points out this research gap, refines the concept of tourism industry ecologization through the circular economy theory, and proposes an assessment index system of tourism industry ecologization based on the Driver-Pressure-State- Impact-Response model (DPSIR). The level of tourism industry ecologization in China from 2011 to 2019 is assessed. The development characteristics of tourism industry ecologization are analyzed by the Thiel index and spatial correlation analysis techniques. The research results show that the proposed system can better evaluate the dynamic process of tourism industry ecologization and explain the evolution of tourism industry ecologization level to a certain extent. Finally, put forward relevant policy suggestions to improve the development of the tourism industry ecologization from micro, medium, and macro perspectives.