Search Results (39)

Understanding the interactions between rural household decision-making behavior and the environment is critical to promoting sustainable rural development. Analyzing the interrelationship between multidestination urban housing purchases, homestead improvement potential, and village environments can provide a theoretical basis for formulating rural revitalization policies. This study uses full-sample household survey data, applying multiscale geographically weighted regression to assess spatial variability and K-means clustering to categorize effects. The findings reveal significant spatial heterogeneity in village homestead improvement potential, most strongly associated with locational attributes, water network density, residential quality, and social factors. The association between multidestination urban housing purchases and improvement potential varies by destination: township purchases are positively associated with it, whereas purchases in county centers and beyond show negative associations. The spatial variability of different factors is significant, allowing villages to be classified into five zones based on dominant factors. Tailored, zone-specific policy directions—developing a county-level dual-core urban system, promoting rural tourism, and encouraging concentrated local habitation—are proposed as testable hypotheses for supporting in situ urbanization and homestead land improvement. Full article

Under the background of highway ecological green construction and traffic-tourism integration, tourist highways in world natural heritage sites bear the dual responsibilities of heritage ecological protection and regional economic boosting, yet existing routes prioritize connectivity over ecological and economic values, damaging heritage integrity and failing to drive surrounding township development. This study aims to build a dual-coordinated route selection framework balancing ecological protection and economic development, taking Mount Fanjing as the case. Adopting literature research, field survey and spatial analysis, and grounding in road ecology, point-axis system and tourism space competition theories, it constructs a four-part framework covering township tourism potential evaluation, ecological suitability assessment, binary matrix model and route generation. Empirically, nine townships including Minxiao and Taiping are screened as core tourism service nodes, and the optimal layout of the ring Mount Fanjing tourist highway is determined via ecological suitability matching. The findings reveal the prominent contradiction between heritage protection and regional development in current heritage tourist highway construction, and the proposed dual coordination model effectively balances heritage conservation and local economic growth, providing a feasible planning reference for sustainable tourist highway layout in world natural heritage sites. Full article

Although tourists’ multi-attraction visitation behavior in tourism flow networks appears random, it actually follows underlying association rules. These rules may exhibit regional variations due to the influence of administrative barriers. Revealing the attraction association rules connected through tourist behavior can provide theoretical support for regional tourism planning and resource allocation. This study proposes a novel analytical framework to uncover hidden patterns and driving factors in tourists’ seemingly random behaviors across inter- and intra-township scales, with empirical evidence from the Pilot Zone of the Yangtze River Delta Green and Integrated Ecological Development Demonstration Area. Results show that the tourism flow network in the study area exhibits a distinct hierarchical structure. Nodes with high centrality are predominantly high-profile scenic spots that serve dual roles as both “cores” and “hubs” in the network. Most statistically significant association rules were observed at the intra-town level. In contrast, inter-town rules (exclusively among towns within Qingpu District, Shanghai) accounted for only a small proportion, where high-A-level tourist attractions frequently served as key nodes that enhanced cross-regional visitation probability. The determinants of tourist flow association rule intensity exhibit both commonalities and heterogeneities between intra-town and inter-town scales. Full article

The rapid development of rural tourism has become a significant force in promoting rural revitalization. However, the unbalanced distribution of value increment generated by the land tourism-oriented transformation has led to various conflicts and has affected the sustainable development of rural tourism. This study selected Zhongyuan Township, Jing’an County, Jiangxi Province, China, as the research site. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys from government entities, village collectives, and investors, yielding 24 interview transcripts and 665 valid questionnaires. By integrating the Shapley value method, grounded theory, structural equation modeling, and the analytic hierarchy process, this study was conducted according to the frame-work of “tracing influencing factors, deconstructing influence mechanisms, and optimizing the distribution model”. The data were analyzed using grounded theory and structural equation modeling. The results indicated that, in addition to the factors influencing land value increment, policy drivers and risk factors also exerted a direct and significant impact on value increment distribution. Based on these findings, the traditional Shapley value model was optimized to produce a more equitable and efficient distribution framework. The optimized value increment distribution model overcomes the limitations of the traditional Shapley value method in addressing complex multi-stakeholder interests, not only making the distribution of land value increment in rural tourism contexts more equitable and efficient but also providing a scientific decision-making tool for balancing economic development, social equity, and ecological protection—laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of rural tourism destinations. This study provides a scientific decision-making tool for balancing stakeholder interests in rural tourism development and contributes to the theoretical refinement of benefit distribution mechanisms in sustainable tourism. Full article

The sustainable development of Rural Summer Health Tourism for the Urban Elderly (RSHTUE) is fundamentally tied to the rational utilization of rural land. Land use is a dynamic process involving multiple stakeholders; it requires predictive modeling of its evolution to ensure long-term sustainability. This study integrates key factors under rigid boundary constraints to establish decision-making rules for government, villager, and tourist agents. Taking Zhongyuan Township as a research site, we constructed a multi-agent simulation model by integrating environmental data processed in ArcGIS with decision-making rules encoded in NetLogo. Through scenario analysis, we simulate the evolution of tourism land use for 2028 and 2033 under three distinct development scenarios: tourism-led, ecological protection, and rural belt joint. The results demonstrate that each scenario leads to markedly different spatial patterns. The model developed in this study can directly simulate land use in RSHTUE destination villages while also being applicable to other types of rural tourism by adjusting relevant parameters. The model serves as a “policy laboratory” to simulate and compare the effects of different policy scenarios, thereby enabling the generation of land use strategies that balance multi-stakeholder sustainable development and providing an empirical basis for policy formulation and optimization. Full article

Vast rural populations squeezed into cities, leaving small townships hollowed out. Even so, some townships’ lands are still expanding. The dilemma of land expansion with a shrinking population raises various challenges including farmland reduction. Much of the current research on the impervious expansion has focused on urban areas, while townships were often neglected. Based on high-resolution satellite data and statistic data in 1993–2018, this study explored long-term township impervious land expansion dynamics and explored the real-world relationship with their population for the 17 first-batch-of-strong-tourism counties in China. The results showed that over the past 26 years, there had been an increasing trend in the impervious areas in 17 counties. There were diseconomies of scale for impervious land expansion, i.e., the township’s land expansion became less efficient with the shrinking population. The impervious area was predominantly converted from cropland (ranging from 16.40% to 71.96%). The expansion in highlands was also increasing, although most of the growth occurred in the lowlands. The expansion patterns were mainly dominated by infilling and edge-expansion during the early stage, after which leapfrogging occurred, and infilling increased again in recent years. Townships with a “closer” accessibility to tourist attractions had the largest and fastest rate of impervious land expansion and an increasing influence of townships. These counties needed customized development with its unique natural conditions. This study could provide data-based evidence for better planning and governing to promote sustainable development worldwide. Full article

Land consolidation is a crucial strategy for optimizing land use structure and ensuring cultivated land security and food safety. Since 2019, Zhejiang Province has been piloting and exploring Whole-Region Comprehensive Land Consolidation (WRCLC). However, there remains an insufficient understanding of the feasibility of WRCLC in ensuring cultivated land security and its potential for synergy with other policies. This study utilizes panel data from 707 townships in Zhejiang Province spanning from 2013 to 2022. By categorizing cultivated land security into two dimensions—quantity and quality—this study employs a double machine learning approach to evaluate the impact of WRCLC policies on township cultivated land security. The results indicate that implementing WRCLC significantly enhances both the quantity and quality of cultivated land. A heterogeneity analysis reveals that WRCLC is particularly effective in improving the quality of cultivated land in non-major grain-producing areas and low economic development areas. Furthermore, examining policy synergies indicates that agricultural mechanization and agricultural industry integration policies work well in conjunction with WRCLC, thereby enhancing both the quantity and quality of cultivated land. However, the synergy with rural tourism policies improves cultivated land quality without effectively increasing cultivated land quantity. Full article

This research applies a model-based teaching approach aimed at scrutinizing trends in the leisure, tourism, hospitality, recreation, and sport (LTHRS) field by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) along with ChatGPT, project-based learning (PBL), systems thinking, and industrial analysis tools to foster trend recognition skills. The study employs a quasi-experimental design to compare the efficacy of two instructional approaches (exploratory vs. confirmatory) concerning AI literacy and learning outcomes. Notably, the exploratory group exhibits marked improvements in AI knowledge, while the confirmatory group demonstrates enhanced trend recognition ability. Additionally, the research delves into the application effects of AI-based text mining and ChatGPT (AITM) as content analysis tools through four distinct projects (5G’s impact on tourism industries, travel trends caused by metaverse, daylily tour in Huatan Township, and Taiwanese elements in spectator sports), underscoring the substantial efficacy of AITM in capturing diverse themes, albeit with challenges in discerning subtle and subjective labels. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the model-based teaching approach and the multifaceted utility of AI and automated text mining in augmenting trend recognition skills. Full article

This study develops a methodological framework for measuring energy conservation and CO₂ emission reductions that considers both origins and destinations. The framework encompasses four key aspects: transportation, accommodation, cooking, and housing rehabilitation. Data were collected through a literature review, questionnaire surveys, and field measurement tracking. Compared to living in the origin, senior tourists from Nanchang visiting Zhongyuan Township in China for summer tourism can save 5.747 MJ of energy and reduce CO₂ emissions by 3.303 kg per capita per day. An in-depth analysis indicated that the research site could further enhance energy conservation and reduce CO₂ emissions by improving public transportation services, optimizing the energy structure of the destination, and diversifying the available recreational offerings. Depending on the characteristics of the destination and the primary origin, summer or winter tourism in various countries or regions can employ the methodological framework to evaluate energy conservation and CO₂ emission reductions after identifying specific parameters. The improved pathways identified through this research can serve as a checklist for other countries or regions aiming to explore energy conservation and CO₂-emission-reduction pathways for summer or winter tourism. Enhancing climate-driven tourism development may offer a new avenue for the tourism industry to contribute to carbon reduction targets. Full article

Ethnic tourism development has emerged as a vital strategy in ethnic regions to drive local economic growth and improve the quality of life. However, numerous ethnic areas have undergone transformation to accommodate tourism and commercial advancement, with little regard for the conservation of their cultural values. Therefore, the aim of this study is to enhance the cultural tourism attributes and construct place identities from the tourists’ perspective. By conducting fieldwork in Zhaishi village of Yongning Township and Lige village near Lugu Lake, encompassing semi-structured interviews with professionals and questionnaires for tourists, we explore the relationship between the “imagined” and “perceived” identity from the tourists’ perspective and the constructed identity from the authorities’ perspective in two Mosuo villages in China. The findings suggest that the local government should focus on the (re)shaping of tourists’ imagined identity and perceived identities. The results of this study provide policy recommendations for the future development of tourism in the Mosuo region, thereby enriching the perspective of ethnic tourism research. Full article

Rural areas around developed metropolitan areas continue to attract capital inflows, promoting rural spatial commodification. Taking Shanghai as a case study, this paper analyzes the characteristics of the spatial distribution pattern and the influencing factors of rural spatial commodification (RSC) through kernel density analysis, multiple regression models, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. This study explores four types of RSC at the township scale outside the center of Shanghai: agricultural product-oriented commodification, farm housing commodification, tourism-oriented commodification, and construction land commodification. The results show the following: (1) The four types of RSC show positive spatial correlation, a clear pattern of agglomeration, and an obvious core–edge pattern, with high-density areas distributed in rural areas with specific advantages around metropolitan areas. The distribution of RSC also demonstrates an obvious polarization, forming an uneven distribution pattern. (2) Socio-economic factors, agriculture, transportation location, urbanization, and industrialization are key factors driving RSC. (3) Different types of RSC should be effectively guided at the policy and planning levels according to regional conditions and development stages to enhance the spatial organization of rural regions and achieve the effective revitalization of the countryside surrounding the metropolis. Full article

As the development of world-class eco-islands progresses, the homestay sector on Chongming Island has burgeoned, emerging as a pivotal catalyst for rural tourism and economic prosperity. This study, leveraging Chongming Island as a case study, systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution of homestays across island-wide, township, and village scales, employing methodologies such as the spatiotemporal evolutionary tree model. It delves into the intricate systemic framework underpinning homestay development, elucidating the dynamics of interaction mechanisms. Furthermore, it examines the evolving roles of diverse stakeholders throughout various developmental phases, grounded in stakeholder theory. The study reveals that (1) Chongming’s homestays on the island, townships, and village scales show very obvious agglomeration characteristics, mainly concentrated in the A-level scenic spots and in and out of the island traffic junction. (2) The growth of homestays in Chongming shows an increasing trend year by year, with the growth rate slowing down after 2020, and can be divided into four main phases, which are closely related to the construction phase of the eco-island. (3) The evolution of Chongming Island’s homestay is a multifaceted natural–human system intricately shaped by a confluence of five interdependent subsystems: natural ecology, social culture, multiple stakeholders, geographical location, and transport infrastructure. At different stages of development, under the synergistic effect of multiple stakeholders, the homestays on Chongming Island eventually formed a governance structure led by the government and co-managed by the development company, external entrepreneurs, and local villagers. These insights not only augment the scholarly discourse on stakeholder dynamics within the homestay industry but also offer pragmatic enlightenment for strategic planning and the advancement of holistic urban–rural integration in Chongming and the broader Shanghai region. Full article

This study explores the concept of sustainable placemaking from a spatial planning perspective, focusing on Marabastad, a township in South Africa. Drawing on the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, this research seeks to understand how placemaking can contribute to the creation of liveable, resilient, and sustainable human settlements. Through a review of the placemaking literature and a case study, this study examines the evolution of placemaking towards sustainability and its application in diverse cultural, geographic, and socio-economic contexts. The findings reveal the importance of creating and enhancing places that are environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, economically viable, and culturally meaningful. The Marabastad case study illustrates the challenges and possibilities of sustainable placemaking in a multicultural and urbanising community. Economic interventions (e.g., tourism promotion and community markets), social interventions (e.g., education and community events), and environmental interventions (e.g., infrastructure upgrades and preservation of cultural sites) are proposed to address the complex challenges faced by Marabastad. This study emphasises the role of spatial planners in advancing theories and practises of sustainable placemaking, highlighting the need for context-specific approaches to promote inclusive and resilient urban environments. Full article

Community resilience and capacity building are key elements in sustainable Indigenous tourism (SIT) and local development, specifically as factors affecting locals’ participation in and communities’ resilience perceptions toward SIT. This study aimed to establish an evaluation framework for SIT in Taiwan based on the aspect of community resilience, using an importance–performance analysis (IPA). We quantitatively surveyed 506 local residents in two touristic townships inhabited by Indigenous tribes: Datong Township in Yilan County and Fengbin Township in Hualien County. Our empirical results reveal a significant gap between the perceived importance and performance of community resilience in SIT. Moreover, the following strategies were prioritized by respondents to enhance local capacity building for SIT: “assisting in building green landscape in the community”, “assisting in creating tribal landscape based on local traditional culture”, and “planning cultural activities based on local traditional knowledge”. Finally, participants who (1) had a higher educational level, (2) lived in the Datong Township, (3) had better attitudes toward job opportunities in sustainable tourism, and (4) had higher perceptions of community resilience were more likely to participate in SIT. Our outcomes synthesize the theoretical constructs and policy implications for community resilience in SIT management that benefit local Indigenous communities. Full article

Township tourism has become more varied, offering a wider range of products, experiences and services. In this paper, we examine residents and stakeholders’ opinions on township tourism in Langa, Cape Town, South Africa; an area characterised by crime, unemployment, housing backlogs and poverty. Using a qualitative approach, this paper reports on empirical evidence conducted with key tourism stakeholders to understand some of their perceptions regarding township tourism development in Langa. Concerns about safety, poor infrastructure and a lack of interaction between tourists and the local community are raised by Langa residents and community leaders. Their dissatisfaction with tour guides and tour routes serves as a reminder of the need for more inclusive practices. While business owners are aware of the potential of tourism in promoting cross-cultural dialogue, deepening understanding and creating priceless experiences, they are constrained by perceptions of crime, a lack of tourist exposure to local establishments and the exclusion from decision-making processes. Despite these difficulties that township tourism faces, it is crucial to promote ethical tourism practices that put emphasis on genuine encounters and local community empowerment. Full article