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An Evaluation of the Rural Tourism Industry’s Competitiveness in the Yangtze River Economic Belt Based on the “Diamond Model”—Exampled by Wenjiang District, Huangpi District, and Jiangning District

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Rural tourism has emerged as a significant option to meet the people's growing needs for a better life in the new era. Evaluating the competitiveness of the rural tourism industry plays a crucial role in promoting rural revitalization. This thesis is based on a modified Porter’s Diamond Model. The study focuses on representative rural tourism demonstration areas in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, specifically Wenjiang District in Chengdu, Huangpi District in Wuhan, and Jiangning District in Nanjing. A Delphi method and Analytic Hierarchy Process were employed to construct a competitiveness evaluation index system for rural tourism and assign weights. The thesis evaluates and compares the competitiveness of the rural tourism industry in the case study regions. The research reveals that the competitiveness of the rural tourism industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt exhibits a pattern of strong competitiveness in the middle reaches, weaker competitiveness in the upper reaches, and moderate competitiveness in the lower reaches. These differences are significantly influenced by the region's tourism resource endowments, tourism infrastructure, and market scale. Huangpi District demonstrates strong competitiveness in its rural tourism industry. This strength is attributed to its well-developed rural tourism supply system. Jiangning District has moderate competitiveness in its rural tourism industry. This is supported by strong market demand and a relatively complete tourism support system. Wenjiang District shows weaker competitiveness in its rural tourism industry. This weakness results from a fragile rural tourism supply system and sluggish market demand. The thesis concludes with recommendations for enhancing the competitiveness of rural tourism in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Source: Regional science and environmental economics

DOI: 10.3390/rsee2010005

Authors: Chunfeng Zhang, Ke Xu, Xiang Zhang, Dongxiao Han, Yating He

Institutions: China Tourism Academy, Central China Normal University, Colorado State University

Language: English

Topic: Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207