Heritage and tourism conflict within world heritage sites in China: a longitudinal study

    Authors

    C. Z. Zhang; A. Fyall;Y. F. Zheng

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Curr. Issues Tour.

    Keywords

    world heritage sites; longitudinal; development; protection; heritage; QUALITATIVE DATA-ANALYSIS; CULTURAL-HERITAGE; NATIONAL-PARK; SUSTAINABLE; DEVELOPMENT; BIOSPHERE RESERVE; HONG-KONG; CONSERVATION; COMMERCIALIZATION; MANAGEMENT; RESOURCE; Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism

    Abstract

    Although the conflicting relationship between heritage and tourism has been debated at length in the Western academic literature, interest in the relationship is now becoming increasingly pronounced across the developing world with particular interest noted in China. To examine this phenomenon further, this study explores the cause and temporal variation of conflicts between heritage and tourism over the past decade in China. Content analysis was adopted as the most appropriate methodology for the study with data from online media reports serving as the primary data for the analysis of the occurrence of heritage and tourism conflicts in China. The findings highlight antiquated management structures, inappropriate tourism operations, and the ineffective use or deficiency of legislation as the primary causes of heritage and tourism conflicts in China with the categories of conflicts varying from clashes relating to resource use to clashes over values. The findings also shed light on the significant role played by the media in the resolution of conflicts. Finally, implications and limitations of the study's findings are discussed.

    Journal Title

    Current Issues in Tourism

    Volume

    18

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2015

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    110

    Last Page

    136

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000346848000002

    ISSN

    1368-3500

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