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The Influence of Seasonality on the Sustainability of Livelihoods of Households in Rural Tourism Destinations

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  • Zhen Su

    (Department of Tourism Management, School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
    Guangxi Development Strategy Institute, Nanning 530004, China)

  • Ruyi Wen

    (Department of Tourism Management, School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China)

  • Yanyu Zeng

    (Department of Tourism Management, School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China)

  • Kai Ye

    (Department of Tourism Management, School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China)

  • Tanaporn Khotphat

    (Airline Business Program, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Suan Dusit University, Bangkok 10300, Thailand)

Abstract

Even though seasonality is an important concern in tourism research, only a few scholars have focused on the seasonality of rural tourism. Therefore, this study examines seasonality in rural tourism destinations. We adopt a mixed research approach to explore the sustainable livelihoods of households in rural tourism destinations from a seasonality perspective, using the case of rural tourism destinations in Yulong River basin, Guangxi, China. First, in-depth interviews and grounded theory are used to construct a sustainable livelihood model for households in rural tourism destinations under the influence of seasonality. Second, the model is tested using the data envelopment analysis model and statistical analysis. We find that (1) psychological capital, a previously neglected livelihood capital, is an important component of rural households’ livelihood capital in rural tourism destinations under the influence of seasonality; (2) rural tourism does not significantly improve rural livelihoods due to seasonal influences; and (3) participating in tourism work in the off-season and combining it with other work practices are the main livelihood strategies of rural households to cope with seasonality; however, over-dispersing resources reduces the livelihood efficiency. This study’s findings will prove useful for policy formation by governments to deal with seasonality in rural tourism.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10572-:d:896816
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Eleonora Santos, 2023. "From Neglect to Progress: Assessing Social Sustainability and Decent Work in the Tourism Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-25, June.
    2. Zhen Su & Kun Xian & Dandan Lu & Wenhui Wang & Yinghong Zheng & Tanaporn Khotphat, 2023. "Rural Tourism Households Adapting to Seasonality: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Marius-Ionuț Gordan & Elena Peț & Gabriela Popescu & Ioan Brad & Anda Ioana Milin & Tabita Cornelia Adamov & Ramona Ciolac & Anka Roxana Pascariu & Tiberiu Iancu, 2022. "Factors Influencing the Accommodation Prices of Romanian Rural Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Julius Uti Nchor, 2023. "Livelihood Strategies and Their Determinants among Informal Households in Calabar, Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.

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