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Cultural Tourism Weakens Seasonality: Empirical Analysis of Chinese Tourism Cities

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  • Jing Zhang

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization Jointly Built by Henan Province and Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China)

  • Zhonglei Yu

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization Jointly Built by Henan Province and Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
    College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Changhong Miao

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization Jointly Built by Henan Province and Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
    College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Yuting Li

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization Jointly Built by Henan Province and Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China)

  • Shuai Qiao

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization Jointly Built by Henan Province and Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China)

Abstract

Cultural tourism is less seasonal than nature tourism. However, previous studies have mainly compared the tourist flow of scenic spots, and it is still unclear how cultural tourism affects regional tourism seasonality. This study investigated the seasonal patterns by analyzing the monthly inbound tourist flow of the 28 typical Chinese tourist cities from 2001 to 2012, and examined the effect of cultural tourism on weakening seasonality by using the random-response panel Tobit model. It was found that the seasonal patterns of inbound tourists present non-peak, one-peak, two-double, and three-peak regular fluctuations, and also have irregular fluctuations affected by emergencies and festivals. Cultural tourism can weaken the seasonality of regional tourism, while nature tourism products enhance tourism seasonality. Suitable travel times throughout the year and destination reception industry levels, locations, and external connections have a significant impact on the regional tourism seasonality, but climate comfort, foreign direct investment, and simply the number of hotels and international travel agencies are not significant for tourism seasonality.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Zhang & Zhonglei Yu & Changhong Miao & Yuting Li & Shuai Qiao, 2022. "Cultural Tourism Weakens Seasonality: Empirical Analysis of Chinese Tourism Cities," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:2:p:308-:d:752407
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Heng Li & Dachen Sheng, 2025. "Impact of Chinese Heritage, Cultural Protection, and Green Innovation on Tourism Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Zhen Su & Ruyi Wen & Yanyu Zeng & Kai Ye & Tanaporn Khotphat, 2022. "The Influence of Seasonality on the Sustainability of Livelihoods of Households in Rural Tourism Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.
    3. Lázaro Florido-Benítez, 2023. "English, German, and French Tourists Are Key to the Success of Andalusian Destinations (Spain)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.

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