Tourism Competitiveness Evaluation: Evidence From Mountain Tourism in China

Area of Science:

• Tourism Studies
• Regional Economics
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• Evaluating tourism competitiveness is crucial for understanding regional tourism potential.
• Enshi Autonomous Prefecture (EAP) in China presents a case study for mountain tourism potential.
• Assessing competitiveness aids in strategic planning for tourism development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a mountain tourism competitiveness model for EAP.
• To identify key factors influencing mountain tourism competitiveness in EAP.
• To provide recommendations for enhancing EAP's mountain tourism sector.

Main Methods:

• Developed a mountain tourism competitiveness model with three criteria: core, economic environment, and infrastructure competitiveness.
• Utilized context-specific evaluation indices.
• Analyzed data from the EAP Statistical Yearbook (2005-2014).

Main Results:

• EAP's mountain tourism core competitiveness was 84.292%, economic environment competitiveness was 13.4%, and infrastructure competitiveness was 2.308%.
• Core competitiveness has the most significant impact on overall tourism competitiveness.
• Low competitiveness is attributed to lack of awareness, poor cooperation, and weak infrastructure.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing core competitiveness and improving infrastructure are vital for EAP's mountain tourism.
• Fostering cooperation and establishing coordinated mechanisms are essential for sustainable development.
• Recommendations focus on balancing competition and cooperation, strengthening communication, and improving infrastructure to support tourism growth and regional revitalization.