The Mainland Chinese market for nature tourism in Hong Kong

Bibliographic Data

ID5761997
AuthorsChung-Shing Chan (0000-0002-3847-3781, Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, corresponding author), Hoi Yan Chiu (Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong), Lawal M Marafa (0000-0001-5281-563X, Department of Geography and Resource Management, Centre for Environmental Policy and Resource Management (CEPRM), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong)
Year2017
Volume19
Issue5
Pages801-822
Publication date2017-10-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueTourism Geographies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-6688 • E-ISSN: 1470-1340
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14616688.2017.1360387
OpenAlexW2743733741
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited58

Nature tourism has been emerged as an ecologically sensitive form of tourism in developed and developing countries. A large influx of tourists would have both benefits and adverse impacts on these destinations. With an increasing influence of Chinese market in many destinations and tourism activities worldwide, it is important to understand the perceptions and preferences of Chinese tourists toward natural attributes so that proper approaches to destination planning and marketing can be derived to better attract these segments of tourists and sustainably manage tourism resources. The results of an empirical study of a sample of Mainland citizens (n = 430) to Hong Kong's nature areas show that (1) they exert a high degree of interest in participating in nature tourism; (2) female and older people are more interested in visiting natural environment; (3) these potential nature tourists from China prefer going to places in association with sea views, and engaging in photo-taking, non-commercial activities and less artificial elements; and (4) the nature tourism attributes form two factors related to aspects of educational needs and relaxation (an experiential factor), and nature-oriented but also convenient (a functional factor). These considerations can lead to the development of ecotourism products that are better suited to meeting the interests of mainland Chinese tourists, while also enriching the host experience

Business · China · Destinations · Ecotourism · Geography · Mainland · Mainland China · Natural (archaeology · Sustainability · Tourism · Tourism geography · Cruise Tourism Development and Management · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management · Marketing