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A New Livelihood Sustainability Index for Rural Revitalization Assessment—A Modelling Study on Smart Tourism Specialization in China

Author

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  • Huiqin Li

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Peter Nijkamp

    (Center for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Bulevardul Carol 1, 19, 700517 Iasi, Romania)

  • Xuelian Xie

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Jingjing Liu

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

Abstract

In our rapidly urbanizing world, the problem of rurality versus urbanization is becoming a source of concern. Rural tourism development may become a new important stimulus for promoting a sustainable transformation of the farmers’ livelihood. This calls for a smart specialization in rural tourism where the focus is on a balanced rural revitalization strategy. As part of the empirical research, this paper introduces a livelihood sustainability index. This index helps to construct a balanced system for the evaluation of livelihood sustainability achievements in rural tourism destinations. It is based on livelihood capital, livelihood strategy, and the interlinkage between livelihood and environment, in order to dynamically assess the livelihood sustainability of rural households. Taking Huangpi District of the Wuhan area in China as our applied case study, the livelihood sustainability index appears to show over the past years a significant rise, based on a comprehensive index method, an entropy method, and a coupling coordination model. Our findings show that the development of rural tourism has clearly promoted livelihood sustainability. This has inter alia resulted in the accumulation of livelihood capital, an asset of which both social and cultural capital have benefitted greatly; livelihood strategies have also improved, and therefore so have livelihood diversity and stability; and finally, the interlinkage and coordination degree between livelihood and the environment has also changed positively from a primary to intermediate balanced development. However, the livelihood sustainability index in the area concerned is still relatively low, and has not yet reached its possible optimal level. Hence, there is still much room for improvement. Various approaches can be proposed to achieve a more sustainable livelihood, such as enhancing livelihood capital; narrowing the economic gap between farmers by participating in professional tourism activity; establishing the mechanism of industrial integration and the development of rural eco-tourism; and coordinating a balanced development of livelihood and environmental quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Huiqin Li & Peter Nijkamp & Xuelian Xie & Jingjing Liu, 2020. "A New Livelihood Sustainability Index for Rural Revitalization Assessment—A Modelling Study on Smart Tourism Specialization in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3148-:d:345286
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    2. Ketut Eko Ari Saputro & Hasim & Lina Karlinasari & Irfan Syauqi Beik, 2023. "Evaluation of Sustainable Rural Tourism Development with an Integrated Approach Using MDS and ANP Methods: Case Study in Ciamis, West Java, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Geng, Yuqing & Liu, Liwen & Chen, Lingyan, 2023. "Rural revitalization of China: A new framework, measurement and forecast," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Jiajun He & Xin Fan & Lin Chen & Haoruo Chen & Jin Luo & Zirui Huang, 2023. "Influencing Factors of the Post-Relocation Support Policy’s Satisfaction Degree for Rural Household: A Case Study of County M, Sichuan Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, June.
    5. Difan Liu & Yuejian Wang & Yuejiao Chen & Guang Yang & Hailiang Xu & Yuxiang Ma, 2022. "Analysis of the Difference in Changes to Farmers’ Livelihood Capital under Different Land Transfer Modes—A Case Study of Manas County, Xinjiang, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Gerald Chidozie Kwazu & Alice Chang-Richards, 2022. "A tool to assess livelihood preparedness for disasters: a study of Kaikōura earthquake in New Zealand," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 113(1), pages 745-766, August.
    7. So-Hee Park & Youn Yeo-Chang, 2021. "Impact of Collaborative Forest Management on Rural Livelihood: A Case Study of Maple Sap Collecting Households in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, February.
    8. Mengqi Guo & Mingyi Xie & Guangcai Xu, 2023. "Sustainable Livelihood Evaluation and Influencing Factors of Rural Households: A Case Study of Beijing Ecological Conservation Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, July.
    9. Zhang, Yunhui & Zhao, Wei, 2024. "Social capital's role in mitigating economic vulnerability: Understanding the impact of income disparities on farmers' livelihoods," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    10. Ziyu Hu & Jiajun Xu, 2025. "How Does the Risk of Returning to Poverty Emerge Among Poverty-Alleviated Populations in the Post-Poverty Era? A Livelihood Space Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-28, June.
    11. 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.
    12. Weiwei Zhang & Kaiwen Yao & Dan Zhang & Youping Peng & Lantao Tu, 2025. "Pathways to Sustainable Livelihood Development for Reservoir Resettlers Based on the SLA-TPB Integrated Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-27, October.
    13. Pascual Fernández Martínez & Mónica de Castro-Pardo & Víctor Martín Barroso & João C. Azevedo, 2020. "Assessing Sustainable Rural Development Based on Ecosystem Services Vulnerability," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-23, July.
    14. Yaping Liu & Huike Shi & Zhen Su & Tafazal Kumail, 2022. "Sustainability and Risks of Rural Household Livelihoods in Ethnic Tourist Villages: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-26, April.
    15. Chen, Xiao & Wu, Rui, 2025. "How can rural industrial revitalization and rural education level reduce the urban–rural income gap?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).

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