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Evaluating Nature-Based Tourism Destination Attractiveness with a Fuzzy-AHP Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoping Gu

    (College of Economics and Management, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China)

  • Carter A. Hunt

    (Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA 16802, USA)

  • Xiang Jia

    (Changbai Mountain Academy of Sciences, Changbai Mountain Protection and Development Zone, Erdaobaihe, Yanbian 133613, China)

  • Lijun Niu

    (Changbai Mountain Academy of Sciences, Changbai Mountain Protection and Development Zone, Erdaobaihe, Yanbian 133613, China)

Abstract

Nature-based tourism attractiveness (NBTA) has yet to be assessed by coupling empirical measurement of supply and demand indicators with simultaneous assessment of tourist and tourism expert perspectives. Based on a guiding principle that the overall attractiveness of a tourism destination should combine the evaluation of existing resources or attractions and their perceived attractiveness, the purpose of this study is to develop and apply a novel methodological approach for assessing tourism attractiveness of nature-based destinations. This approach developed here combines an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with a Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method (FCEM). The resulting Fuzzy-AHP approach to NBTA was tested at the Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve, a popular nature-based tourism destination in China. The findings confirm that this Fuzzy-AHP approach is a more reliable and comprehensive method for evaluating the destination attractiveness than pre-existing approaches. In addition to theoretical contributions related to the merging of various approaches to assessing destination attractiveness and the development of a tool specific to nature-based tourism destinations, this work will be of interest to decision makers seeking more effective tools for planning, marketing, and developing nature-based tourism destinations.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoping Gu & Carter A. Hunt & Xiang Jia & Lijun Niu, 2022. "Evaluating Nature-Based Tourism Destination Attractiveness with a Fuzzy-AHP Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7584-:d:844621
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    References listed on IDEAS

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