Destination In China Research Articles

Does destination familiarity boost revisit intentions?

ABSTRACT This research examines how perceived environmental concern (PEC) and emotional experience influence tourists’ intention to revisit destinations in China. It also explores how familiarity with the destination influences the relationships of emotional experience, PEC, and intentions of revisiting. Using convenience sampling, 392 responses were collected, and later, Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyse. Results showed that PEC positively impacts revisit intention, with emotional experience mediating this relationship. Additionally, emotional experience directly and positively influences revisit intention. This research is unique in its focus on revisit intention and provides valuable insights for policymakers and destination stakeholders to develop strategies to boost tourist revisit intention.

The effects of resident-tourist interaction quality on residents’ pro-environmental behaviour through improved relationships: a combination of symmetric and asymmetric analysis

Cultivating residents’ pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) is crucial for tourism destinations to promote sustainable development. While residents’ PEBs has become a popular area of research, limited consideration has been given to whether and how interactions between residents and tourists influence residents’ PEBs, leaving this research domain underexplored. Based on self-determination theory and complexity theory, this research explores how social antecedents affect residents’ PEBs by conducting Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) analyses. An empirical survey was conducted among 535 residents of the West Lake Scenic Area, a major tourism destination in China. The PLS-SEM results demonstrated that high-quality resident-tourist interaction facilitated residents’ closeness with tourists and their attachment to the destination, which, in turn, contributed to residents’ active engagement in PEBs. The results from fsQCA indicated that relying exclusively on PLS-SEM may be insufficient for achieving a comprehensive understanding of the proposed research model. According to fsQCA, this study identified 11 distinct solutions that sufficiently explain high levels of residents’ PEBs, demonstrating how various antecedents work in unison to facilitate residents’ PEBs. This research concluded by proposing theoretical and practical implications of facilitating residents’ PEBs.

The influence of tourist values on environmental responsibility behavior—a multi-case study from Guilin

Cultivating tourists’ environmental responsibility behavior is an effective way to relieve the pressure of ecological environment in tourist destinations. Based on the value-attitude-behavior theory, this paper constructs a relationship model of values, ecotourism attitude, social responsibility awareness and environmental responsibility behavior, and explores the mechanism of tourists’ values influence on environmental responsibility behavior. Taking three scenic areas (Mao’er Mountain, Yulong River and Xingping Ancient Town) in the Lijiang River Basin of Guilin, a world-famous tourist destination in China, as a case study, the structural equation model is used to test the theoretical hypotheses of tourists’ environmental responsibility behavior. The results of the three studies show that values have a significant positive impact on tourists’ environmental responsibility behavior, while ecotourism attitude cannot directly affect tourists’ environmental responsibility behavior, but values can indirectly affect tourists’ environmental responsibility behavior through the chain intermediary of ecotourism attitude and social responsibility awareness. The findings of the study can effectively guide tourists’ environmental responsibility behavior, which has far-reaching significance for the sustainable development of tourist destinations.

Environmental communication in wildlife tourism: narrative framing and emotion effect on the willingness to pay for a destination

Finding an appropriate environmental communication format to enhance tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP) for wildlife tourism destinations is a cost-effective and accessible method to mitigate human–wildlife conflict. However, there is limited research on this topic. This study addresses the critical issue of effectively communicating environmental values to tourists. By incorporating framing effect theory, narrative transportation theory, and affect theory, it investigates the impact of text and image communication messages on tourists’ WTP for wildlife tourism destinations in China, which is an emerging but under-explored market. The study used a 2 (narrative text vs. non-narrative text) × 3 (no image vs. positive image vs. negative image) between-subjects factorial experimental design with Chinese tourists for the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. The results revealed that narrative texts and negative images have a significant positive influence on WTP, while the moderating effect of negative images is significant and negative, and empathy with nature mediates these effects. This study is the first to reveal the impact of affect framing on tourists’ WTP for wildlife tourism destinations from the perspective of environmental communication.

Spatial and Temporal Differences of Climate Suitability of Ice and Snow Sports in Major Ski Tourism Destinations in China

Spatial and Temporal Differences of Climate Suitability of Ice and Snow Sports in Major Ski Tourism Destinations in China

Social support and travel: Enhancing relationships, communication, and understanding for travel companions

AbstractThis study explores the multifaceted relationship between travel patterns and mental health (MH) in China, offering a novel integrative approach that synthesizes various factors such as mode of transportation, cultural distance, financial implications, and trip planning. Utilizing a descriptive research design, 622 tourists were surveyed using a pen‐and‐paper questionnaire at designated tourist destinations in China. Findings reveal that travel positively influences MH by providing new experiences, socialization, and relaxation, leading to reduced stress and improved well‐being. Duration, frequency, and active travel modes are associated with better MH outcomes. Solo travel fosters personal growth, while group travel enhances social support. Natural environments offer greater MH benefits than urban settings, and leisure travel surpasses work‐related trips in promoting MH. Greater cultural distance, poor trip planning, and financial burdens negatively impact MH. This comprehensive framework offers insights into public health and tourism policies, advancing the understanding of how travel elements collectively influence MH.

Does grassroots judicial governance contribute to economic growth? A quasi-natural experiment based on the tourism circuit court

The tourism circuit court is a grassroots law enforcement tool for tourist destinations in China. This article constructs a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model to examine the impact of tourism circuit courts on tourism economic growth. Our findings reveal an 8.22% increase in economic growth within cities that have established a tourism circuit court. Furthermore, we develop a theoretical framework to explore the potential mechanisms originating from the judicial environment. This study confirms that judicial access, efficiency, and independence are key mechanisms by which tourism circuit courts affect economic growth. Our empirical results provide valuable insights into enhancing the quality of law enforcement within the tourism sector.

Division by countries of origin? Visualizing the spatial distributions of international migrants in Guangzhou, China

Socio-spatial segregation of immigrants or other ethno-racial groups in Western cities has been extensively investigated. In the recent decades, China has also witnessed a substantial growth of international immigrants. In the city of Guangzhou, one of the most famous destinations in China for transnational migration, the spatial presence of international migrants has received scholarly attention, mostly focusing on single racial groups. In this study, we present two cartograms using cellphone data to visualize the spatial distributions of multiple groups of international migrants, namely, the African migrants, the European and North American migrants, and the Japanese and Korean migrants, in Guangzhou. The cartograms indicate that the spatial distributions of migrants from Africa and those from the European, North American, and East Asian countries are considerably divided in Guangzhou, suggesting a possible ethno-racial segregation among the international migrants in this Chinese city. Such an issue is largely under-researched in the existing literature.

관광지 선택속성이 지역브랜드 이미지와 재방문의도에 미치는 영향

Zhoushan City, a prominent tourism destination in China, has witnessed the continued growth of its tourism industry, making the city and the industry a pivotal part of the national economy. However, the rapid expansion of tourism has brought to light several issues that the city faces as a tourism destination, such as bland and monotonous cultural images, outdated tourist facilities, inhospitable residents, and mediocre food quality. These issues point to the critical tasks in need of urgent resolution, as they are associated with destination selection attributes that can influence destination brand images and revisit intentions. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the impacts that destination selection attributes have on local brand images and intentions to revisit among domestic visitors to Zhoushan City. Empirical analysis reveals the following findings. Firstly, all destination selection attributes, including cultural images, facility convenience, local hospitality, and food quality, significantly influence local brand images. Secondly, all destination selection attributes also significantly influence revisit intentions. Thirdly, local brand images exert a significant impact on revisit intentions. Lastly, mediation effects of local brand images between destination selection attributes and revisit intentions are observed, with partial mediation effects in facility convenience, cultural images, and local hospitality, and a full mediation effect in food quality. These findings provide insights for devising practical strategies to enhance Zhoushan City's local brand images and attract more tourists to the city.

Destination brand identity as a mediator between accessibility and tourist perception: Promoting Bama Yao as potential wellness tourist destination in China

This study aims to examine the impact of accessibility and destination brand identity on Chinese wellness tourist perceptions. It considers Bama Yao autonomous district’s growth towards longevity tourism and contributes to empirical work on the Chinese wellness tourism market. This quantitative research incorporated a post-positivism paradigm with the non-probability convenience sampling method to collect paper-based questionnaires: a total of 346 were coded for data analysis. The results demonstrated that accessibility positively influenced destination brand identity and tourist perceptions. Equally destination brand identity positively influenced tourist perception. Meanwhile, destination brand identity mediated the relationship between accessibility and tourist perception for wellness tourism destinations. However, the cross-sectional study’s results cannot be generalizable, and the sample may be one of its limitations. The present study provides policymakers and practitioners with the theoretical and practical basis to understand and predict tourists’ perceptions of wellness tourism destinations in China.

Research on the Linguistic Landscape in Xishan Scenic Area from a Multilingual Perspective

The use of multiple languages is an important part of linguistic landscape. Taking the Xishan Scenic Area in Kunming, Yunnan Province as an example, this study examines the language ecology in the official linguistic landscape of tourist areas. It is found that the use of traditional Chinese is a prominent feature of the linguistic landscape in Xishan Scenic Area. Chinese plays a dominant role in the linguistic landscape, with the highest usage percentage and salience. Although English as a lingua franca is not salient enough compared with Chinese, it is widely used in the local linguistic landscapes. In addition to English, the official linguistic landscape of Xishan also features the use of languages such as Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese. The findings provide an authentic portrait of the linguistic landscape in an international tourism destination in China.

The spatial differentiation of human-environment relationship in mountain tourism destination, based on the image data of Landsat-8

Mountain is the most traditional tourism destination in China. On the basis of analyzing the particularity and its spatial differentiation of human-environment relationship in mountain tourism destination, this paper conducts empirical analysis in Yulong Snow Mountain by land use type classification. Firstly, ENVI is used to preprocess the Landsat-8 images of the research area. Then the visual interpretation is performed by ArcGIS to classify land use types. Based on the above, the differentiation status of human-environment relationship is analyzed. It concluded that: (1) Under the influence of natural factors such as piedmont, climate, altitude, gradient, slope, geological environment, and geomorphic characteristics, the uneven spatial distribution of human-environment relationship in mountain tourism destination is greatly affected by vegetation, rainfall, heat distribution, wind direction, suitability for human activities, and especially the topography; (2) The Yulong Snow Mountain forms three distinct levels of spatial differentiation in human-environment relationships between the east and west slopes, between high, medium and low elevations, and between different gradients.

Development of ice and snow tourism destinations in China: ecological security assessment and obstacle degree analysis

Development of ice and snow tourism destinations in China: ecological security assessment and obstacle degree analysis

The Spatiotemporal Variation in Biodiversity and Its Response to Different Future Development Scenarios: A Case Study of Guilin as an Internationally Renowned Tourist Destination in China

The preservation of biodiversity is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and promoting the harmonious development of mankind and nature. To formulate a biodiversity conservation plan for Guilin in China and accurately evaluate the impact of conservation measures on regional biodiversity, this study combined the InVEST model (v 3.7.0), the GeoSOS-FLUS model (v 2.3), and the landscape pattern index, analyzing the spatiotemporal changes in biodiversity from 2000 to 2020 in Guilin and simulating biodiversity under different development scenarios in 2040. The results showed the following: (1) The biodiversity index in Guilin displayed a declining trend, with the average annual value decreasing from 0.875 in 2000 to 0.870 in 2020. The area experiencing a reduction in biodiversity was primarily concentrated around the city. (2) The biodiversity level of each district and county had a large spatiotemporal difference, with the overall distribution characteristics of “higher in the northwest, southwest, and east, and lower in the northeast, southeast and central”. (3) The biodiversity hotspots were identified as priority areas for conservation; woodland and wetland were effectively protected, and the expansion of construction land and arable land was limited under the ecological protection scenario compared with the natural development scenario. (4) The annual average value of the biodiversity index of Guilin could reach 0.872 in 2040 after the adoption of ecological conservation measures, which is 0.013 higher than the natural development scenario. The results of this study can provide guidance for the construction of a national sustainable development model city and land use planning in Guilin, as well as a scientific reference for the creation of biodiversity conservation policies.

Factors Influencing Tourists’ Intention and Behavior toward Tourism Waste Classification: A Case Study of the West Lake Scenic Spot in Hangzhou, China

The increasing amount of tourism waste has been a headache for most tourist destinations in China. Guiding tourists to classify waste has become a key concern for tourism waste management. In this study, the TPB-AR-DH model was constructed for the first time to reveal the formation process of tourists’ participation in tourism waste classification. The data came from a questionnaire survey sample of 382 tourists to the West Lake Scenic Spot in Hangzhou. The results from the structural equation model and multiple group analysis showed that (1) attitude towards the tourism waste classification, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and ascription of responsibility positively affected tourists’ waste classification intention. Especially, the ascription of responsibility was the most influential factor; (2) perceived behavioral control had the largest effects on actual behavior, and waste classification intention played a partly mediating role between perceived behavioral control and actual behavior; (3) tourists’ daily habit of waste classification played a significant moderating role between tourists’ waste classification intention and actual behavior. On the whole, this study offered a theoretical explanation model to popularize the initiative of tourism waste classification and perfect waste management policies in tourist destinations.

Exploring digital innovation in smart tourism destinations: insights from 31 premier tourist cities in digital China

Purpose This study aims to unveil the pivotal components and implementation pathways in the digital innovation of smart tourism destinations, while constructing a theoretical framework from a holistic perspective. Design/methodology/approach The research focuses on 31 significant urban smart tourism destinations in China. Secondary data was collected through manual search supplemented by big data scraping, whereas primary data was obtained from interviews with municipal tourism authorities. Grounded theory was used to theoretically construct the phenomenon of digital innovation in smart tourism destinations. Findings This research has formulated a data-driven knowledge framework for digital innovation in smart tourism destinations. Core components include digital organizational innovation, smart data platforms, multi-stakeholder digital collaborative ecosystem and smart tourism scenario systems. Destinations can achieve smart tourism scene innovation through closed innovation driven by smart data platforms or open innovation propelled by a multi-stakeholder digital collaborative ecosystem. Practical implications Based on insights from digital innovation practices, this study proposes a series of concrete recommendations aimed at assisting Destination Management Organizations in formulating and implementing more effective digital innovation strategies to enhance the sustainable digital competitiveness of destinations. Originality/value This study advances smart tourism destination innovation research from localized thinking to systemic thinking; extends digital innovation theory into the realm of smart tourism destination innovation; repositions the significance of knowledge in smart tourism destination innovation; and constructs a comprehensive framework for digital innovation in smart tourism destinations.

백두산 관광객 환경책임행동의 선행요인에 대한 연구

Purpose While tourism globally contributes positively to sociocultural exchange and local economic development, the surge in demand at some popular tourist destinations has led to environmental side effects and societal concerns. This study focuses on the environmental protection policies and capabilities of the Baekdu Mountain Conservation Area, a prominent tourist destination in China, and aims to explore the relationships between tourists' destination information source credibility, local attachment, perceived subjective norms, attitudes, and their environmentally responsible behavior.
 Methods The study employs a structural equation modeling approach based on hypotheses derived from prior research findings. Empirical data were collected through a survey administered to tourists visiting Baekdu Mountain, and demographic analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis, model fit analysis, and hypothesis testing were conducted using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 25.0.
 Results The study reveals that destination credibility significantly influences environmentally responsible behavior. Local attachment also shows a significant relationship with environmentally responsible behavior, indicating that tourists who trust the destination are more likely to develop emotional attachment. Subjective norms were found to influence environmentally responsible behavior through the mediating role of environmental attitudes.
 Conclusion The study provides practical implications for the conservation, environmental protection, and destination management of the Baekdu mountain ecological tourism site. It emphasizes the importance of efforts by tourist destinations in management, operation, and information dissemination to gain and maintain tourists' credibility. This research contributes academically by conducting empirical research on Baekdu Mountain Conservation Area in China, which has not been extensively covered in extant academic literature.

Systematic review of strategies for rural tourism regeneration in the post-epidemic era-the case of mainland China

This paper aims to summarise the methods of rural tourism revitalization in the post-epidemic period in the existing literature and screen out the strategies suitable for China. The method of subject analysis and the stakeholder theory are adopted as the main approaches to achieve the goal by analysing the methods to help rural tourism development from four dimensions: local government, local community, travel agency, and residents. According to China's conditions and experience from other countries, the paper finally puts forward four strategies for China's rural tourism regernation. Specifically, for the government, the accessible strategies are to provide low-interest loans to tourism practitioners, for communities, it is proper to help scenic spots install disinfection facilities. Considering the travel agencies, to develop Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) programs could help, and residents in rural tourism destinations can participate in the environmental protection to help the revitalisation. The practical significance of this study is mainly to provide theoretical basis for the development direction of rural destinations in China in the post-epidemic period. At the same time, other countries with similar situation to China's rural tourism can also make selective reference. Despite the problems of a single database and neglect of regional differences within China, the research results still have particular value.

‘Instant Noodle Crisis’: understanding tourist and public sentiments towards collective tourist environmentally irresponsible behaviour in a tourist destination in China

ABSTRACT Limited studies have examined tourist and public sentiments towards tourists’ environmentally irresponsible behaviour. This study used Python to mine and analyze online reviews from online travel agency websites and social networking sites to comprehend a specific event of tourists’ environmentally irresponsible behaviour, the Laojun Mountain ‘Instant Noodle Crisis’ in China, which has triggered widespread online discussion. The findings are as follows: (1) Based on the event system theory, it showed that the evolutionary mechanisms of ‘Instant Noodle Crisis’ differ between online travel agency websites and social networking sites. (2) The results from keywords, semantic co-occurrence, and visual semantic association networks revealed that reviews on online travel agency websites focused on travel experiences and sights, with tourists rarely mentioned their own behaviour. In contrast, reviews on social networking sites concentrated on blame-assigning and cause-seeking. (3) Latent Dirichlet Allocations model analysis demonstrated that tourists’ environmentally irresponsible behaviour decreased positive feelings and increased negative emotions among tourists and the public. This study explored the occurrence mechanisms, tourist and public attitudes and emotions, related to collective tourists’ environmentally irresponsible behaviour from a novel perspective. It offer insights for future academic research in the field and tourism destination management strategies.

Developing and Managing Film-Related Tourism in the All-for-One Model at a Tourism Destination: The Case of Hengdian Town (China)

All-for-one tourism is a new planning concept proposed by Chinese tourism scholars and practitioners, which has been formally regarded as a new tourism model to develop the country’s tourism industries since 2016. It aims to stimulate the growth of the tourism industries across the entire region, encompassing all tourism and tourism-related resources at a destination. Hengdian Town is a tourism destination in China that has implemented the model of all-for-one tourism to develop and manage its film-related tourism. Based on the data collected from ethnographic methods (participant observations and individual interviews) in Hengdian Town, this paper examines the ways that the destination manages its film-related tourism, as well as the outcomes of such approaches, by applying the model of all-for-one tourism. The findings reveal that Hengdian Town has leveraged the model to manage its tourism resources and provided tourists with a comprehensive travel experience. This paper also explores the benefits and drawbacks of managing film-related tourism in the all-for-one tourism model. By focusing on film-related tourism, this study provides a unique perspective on the all-for-one tourism model.