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Few tourism studies have focused on tourists who have been victims of a disaster. Their destination attachment has implications for re-establishment of market confidence and resilience. Structural equation modelling of data from 242 tourists who were victims of the Jiuzhaigou earthquake was used to explore their feelings of attachment. The results confirm that earthquake-affected tourists can generate positive emotional attachment toward the destination. Destination attachment is related to such factors as positive emotions, social support, and severity of disaster exposure. Positive emotions mediate the relationships between severity of disaster exposure, social support and destination attachment. It is revealed that experiences of a disaster event can be a turning point, prompting positive change in tourist-destination relationships across the destination life-cycle. Implications for emergency management and for post-disaster market recovery are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproduction of social relationships in a rural tourism destination is examined through a micro-sociological lens that explores residents' everyday interactions. Interaction ritual theory is adopted as the theoretical foundation. Zhinan, a mountainous village in Hangzhou, China, which initiated tourism in 2014, is the study site. Two rounds of focus groups and interviews were conducted with village residents. Qualitative inquiry shows that, under the influence of tourism, residents' daily interactions consist of three interaction rituals, that is, rural living rituals, tourism operation rituals, and event and festival rituals. Due to the distinct ingredients, these rituals unfold differentially and engage different social actors. They complement each other in the co-construction of rural social relationships that have symbolic, emotional, collective, and normative connotations. This study provides in-depth, contextualized understandings of rural residents' interactions and relationships, and draws practical implications for sustainable development of rural tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGender equality is an important UN sustainable development goal. With tourism often encouraging and favoring female participation, relationships between tourism and gender equality have attracted much research attention. However, being dynamic and highly contextual, the multi-faceted complex of gender and tourism interactions are relevant to both males and females. Therefore, nuanced and contextual case studies incorporating perspectives of both genders is critically needed for gender research in tourism. Drawing from previous research, dimensions of gender equality are deconstructed into gender roles, perspectives, and relationships. Yudong Village, Zhejiang Province, China, was selected as the study site. Field investigations were used, primarily involving semi-structured interviews with multiple actors. Females and males were interviewed to acquire and compare their involvements in and perspectives on tourism and its influences on gender issues. Positive tourism influences on three dimensions of gender equality were acknowledged by both genders. Relationships among changes in gender perceptions, roles and relationships were examined. Agreements and differences between genders and across generations are discussed. Such changes rippled from family circles to rural communities through tourism enhanced social networks and business relationships. This research contributes to a gender balanced understanding of tourism impacts on gender equality. Practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism and related development can lead to the displacement and resettlement of communities, disrupting local livelihood systems, socio-political processes and organizations. However, limited attention has been paid to community resettlement in the tourism context. Taking Yinhuwan village at Mount Sanqingshan World Heritage Site in China as an example, this study examines the results of tourism and resettlement on the livelihoods of this rural community and the extent to which tourism-related livelihood strategies contribute to community livelihood sustainability. A sustainable livelihood framework is adopted to guide the analysis. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with management officials, community leaders and village residents through three field investigations in 2013. It was found that traditional livelihood methods have been largely replaced by tourism, which has become the primary livelihood strategy for the resettled community. Despite current economic benefits, high dependency on tourism-related opportunities as the single livelihood option may diminish the sustainability of local livelihoods. The current resettlement plan highlights short-term economic impacts on the affected community, overlooking their socio-cultural concerns and long-term livelihood sustainability. Possible measures are discussed to diversify livelihood options and mitigate potential challenges for the affected community so as to ensure their long-term benefits and increase future options. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: This paper addresses community-based tourism and raises questions concerning the meaning of the term. Desired results may not be achieved through strict application of the concept in the absence of external inputs in all but a few favoured cases. Tourism, by definition, involves links with the outside world, raising questions concerning the types and extent of inputs that can be accepted without undermining the meaning of ‘community-based’. Through a case study of tourism in Mamoiada, Sardinia, the paper addresses the concept of community and locals’ participation in tourism development. It points out the key role played by local institutions and cosmopolitan locals, who are residents with external exposure, who are able to take initiatives and act as catalysts of development. Tourism planners should carefully evaluate the institutional arrangements, including the presence of cosmopolitan locals and their involvement in the creation of competitive local attractions, for the success of tourism development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tour guides have received less scholarly attention than most other tourism stakeholders or participants. No known studies explore the role of tour guides in sustainable development. However, since they influence where tourists go and what they do, where they spend their money and what they learn about local history and culture, their implications for destinations have many consequences. This paper examines the links between tour guides and sustainable development and proposes a framework for interpretative guiding. It indicates the means by which tour guides can contribute to the promotion of sustainability and presents standards against which tour guides'' performances can be examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tourist towns are a new and extraordinary form of urbanization in the peripheral regions of China, especially for regions where distinctive tourist attractions are located. Tourism urbanization is occurring in China due to high pressure for urbanization and because real estate has become a major development force. This article investigates the interconnected consequences of tourism development, tourism-related leisure property development, and the process of urbanization. The role of real estate in tourism development in China is illustrated. Policies for tourism real estate are assessed by examining the social, economic, and landscape consequences. Dali and Lijiang, the two tourist cities, are the case study areas of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares the images of Qingdao, China, as perceived by visitors and residents and examines whether these images are affected by information sources, age, education, and place attachment. The data were collected using a self-administered survey of 578 visitors and 337 residents of Qingdao throughout June and July of 2009. The image construct was conceptualized into two dimensions: cognitive and affective. It was found that the images perceived by visitors and residents converged primarily on cognitive images and less so on affective images. The results of a Mann-Whitney U test reveal that the main differences between the images held by visitors and residents are in 10 cognitive images (seafood, cultural attraction, highway system, traffic congestion, airline schedules, local people, beaches, weather, scenery, and hygiene and cleanliness) and in two affective images (arousing-sleepy and exciting-gloomy). Spearman's rank correlation test revealed that there is a weak positive correlation between place attachment and the images of Qingdao perceived by both visitors and residents. Age, education, and information sources are only partially correlated with visitor and resident images, with weak correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews and assesses the Chinese academic literature on World Heritage Sites. Management structure, lack of financial resources, impacts on the World Heritage Sites and heritage education are themes that are commonly addressed. Research opportunities are identified. In particular, the need for more detailed case studies on a greater variety of sites is required. Such studies should be informed by clear concepts and appropriate theoretical frameworks if knowledge is to be cumulative and lead to the enhanced management of World Heritage Sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through their multiple roles in tourism, residents of destination communities interact with tourists at destinations. The consequences of these host-guest interactions are bi-directional. Much research has been done on impacts of host-guest interactions on the local community. On the other hand, few studies have evaluated how tourists' on-site behaviour and experiences are affected by such interactions. Such information could enhance tourism planning and management. Thus, this paper explores tourists' perceptions and opinions on host-guest interactions and the impacts of such interactions on their experiences. Through a survey of domestic travelers residing in Beijing China conducted in 2008, tourists' opinions on the influence of destination community members on their previous domestic travel behaviour and experiences were obtained. Most respondents acknowledged that interactions with local people influence their assessments of the destination, the quality of their experiences, future destination choice and on-site expenditures, particularly those with higher educations and of a younger age. The importance of impacts of host-guest interactions on tourists' travel behaviour and experiences, and their evaluations of a destination are confirmed. Practical implications are suggested for the planning and management of tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper adopts a geographical perspective to understand the conceptual and theoretical issues of resort morphology. Resort morphology refers to “the forms and associated functions of a destination area and their development”. Resort towns are differentiated from other urban areas in terms of morphology because of their functional emphasis on tourism. The literature reflects the significant interest of European geographers in the morphological study of coastal resort towns. However, limited attention has been given to resort morphology in developing countries, including those in Asia. It is argued that the complex of contextual factors that influence the morphological character of resorts needs to be considered and, furthermore, there is a great need to develop a systematic approach for investigating resort morphology. Although the morphological approach to the study of resorts is transferable, it is likely that Asian morphologies will differ from their western counterparts because of their time, scale and pace of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Qinghai–Tibet railway opened in July 2006 and boosted Tibetan tourism markedly due to the increased accessibility and affordability of travel to Tibet. This study evaluates the impacts of the increased accessibility on tourists'' travel decisions for, and experiences in, Tibet from travelers'' perspectives. The relative importance of the train journey in comparison with the destination experience in Tibet is also examined. A survey of 187 travelers, 82 for the pre-visit and 105 for the post-visit samples, was used to collect travelers'' perceptions. Important destination choice factors for Tibet are identified. The importance of the railway to tourists'' destination choice of Tibet and in their overall travel experience of Tibet is confirmed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tourism is often considered as an important way to diversify island economy, reinforce island culture and support island residents. As a dynamic multi-actor process, an island tourism destination is constructed and evolved with different stakeholders interacting and co-creating the setting, values, experiences, meanings and identity of the island. Taking the bioluminescent "Blue tears" of Pingtan Islands, Fujian Province of China, as a focal point, the interactions of local government and tourists and the responses of the tourism sector in co-creating Pingtan as a tourism destination were evaluated. A mixed methods approach was adopted, including assessment of policies and plans to reflect government perspectives, online review analysis to present tourist perspectives, analysis of online news and onsite observations to reflect tourism sector involvement. As an attraction provoking tourists' imagination and emotions, the "Blue tears" enriched Pingtan as a tourism place. The wide-spread uses of social media in travel information exchange disseminated tourists' use patterns and preferences and empowered tourists in the tourism place making process of Pingtan. Such market demand not only responded to, but also influenced the official positioning and strategies of the local government and was stimulating the development and involvement of the tourism sector. Theoretical reflections on tourism place making theory and practical implications for Pingtan and other island and coastal destinations are discussed. • Interactions of local government, tourists, tourism business are examined in co-creating Pingtan as a tourism destination. • The decentralization of power with increased bottom-up actor involvement in tourism place making in the era of social media is revealed. • Understanding of the dynamic interplay of multiple actors in tourism place making process is advanced. • Practical implications are generated to enhance stakeholder cooperation to support island tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic culture is the special attraction of indigenous tourism, and exotic culture plays different roles in tourists' experiences, reflecting distinctive meanings and values. This study examines the complexity and hierarchical nature of tourists' experiences at indigenous sites and deconstructs experience patterns using a means-end chain approach. Fifty-eight in-depth interviews were conducted and used to construct hierarchical value maps. Three sets of indigenous tourism experiences are identified: enjoying nature and a simple lifestyle, participating in indigenous activities, and experiencing ethnic culture. Two value-led gains are derived: happiness and enrichment. An experience spectrum is proposed from self-oriented, through self and others, to others-oriented, reflecting different orientations of pursuits that are expressed through experiencing indigenous tourism in various ways. • A MEC analysis is used to deconstruct the complexity and hierarchical nature of tourist experiences in indigenous tourism. • Three activity-based sets of indigenous tourism experiences are identified, and are associated with two value-led outcomes. • An experience spectrum is proposed from self-oriented, through self and others, to other-oriented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]