Sustainability and Tourism: the case of China

Abstract

The concept of sustainability is acquiring increasing importance in the global discourse on economic exploitation and environmental impact. However, the ongoing debate on what achieving a sustainable development concretely means, and the lack of universally accepted sustainability indicators, make the road to sustainability a bumpy one. Additionally, the vision on sustainability depends greatly on the ideals and cultural background each individual possesses. The value attached to nature, human relations and the community, all contribute to defining the way we relate to the concept of sustainability. Tourism has been defined as an “industry without chimneys”. Nevertheless, its impact on the environment is undeniable. Tourism is a relatively new sector in Chinese economy, but given the sheer size of the Chinese touristic market, and the impact it consequently has, it is significant to analyse Chinese tourism in relation to sustainable development. Chinese natural and cultural touristic spots face different kinds of problems, but both suffer from overexploitation. Natural and cultural resources constitute the premises of tourism development, but their uncontrolled and irrational utilisation can damage the natural and social system, while impeding tourism growth. Following the discussion on sustainable tourism, natural tourism will be taken as a case study in order to analyse environmental pressures and responses. Nature-based tourism represents an experimenting field for new tourism models, inspiring innovative practices and a more balanced relation between nature and humans. For this purpose, the National Forest Park of Zhangjiajie, the oldest Chinese National Park and a relevant tourism destination of mid-western China, will be taken as an example to analyse the Chinese approach to tourism and the exploitation of the natural environment.