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System Construction, Tourism Empowerment, and Community Participation: The Sustainable Way of Rural Tourism Development

Author

Listed:
  • Junhui Tong

    (Ningbo University-University of Angers Joint Institute, Yangtze River Delta Ecological Civilization Research Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Yi Li

    (Ningbo University-University of Angers Joint Institute, Yangtze River Delta Ecological Civilization Research Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
    Tsinghua University-Younger Group Postdoctoral Workstation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Yongliang Yang

    (School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
    Silk and Fashion Culture Research Center of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China)

Abstract

The development of rural tourism serves as a crucial strategy for achieving rural revitalization and common prosperity in China. However, the uneven distribution of interests caused by the imperfect tourism destination system is common, and its economic and social impacts have become a major problem and obstacle to the sustainable development of rural tourism. Tourism empowerment and community participation are important for balancing community interests and promoting the sustainable development of tourism. Therefore, from the perspective of tourism empowerment and community participation, this paper takes the Wuzhen scenic area as a case study and considers tourism empowerment as a mediating variable between system construction and community participation, with participation ability serving as a moderating variable. Employing a structural equation model, this paper investigates the interactions among system construction, tourism empowerment, community participation, and participation ability in a rural destination context. The results indicate that system construction significantly benefits tourism empowerment and community participation. Tourism empowerment exerts a significant positive impact on community participation while also serving as a partial mediator between system construction and community participation. Additionally, participation ability positively moderates the impact of system construction on tourism empowerment. This study recommends the creation of an interest linkage mechanism grounded in the property rights of tourism attractions, the introduction of oversight mechanisms for rural tourism enterprises, and the fortification of community participation through educational and informational support as strategies to ensure the sustainable development of rural tourism destinations.

Suggested Citation

  • Junhui Tong & Yi Li & Yongliang Yang, 2024. "System Construction, Tourism Empowerment, and Community Participation: The Sustainable Way of Rural Tourism Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:1:p:422-:d:1312601
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melphon A. Mayaka & Gary Lacey & Christian M. Rogerson, 2020. "Empowerment process in community-based tourism: Friend relationship perspective," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(5), pages 791-808, September.
    2. Boley, B. Bynum & McGehee, Nancy G. & Perdue, Richard R. & Long, Patrick, 2014. "Empowerment and resident attitudes toward tourism: Strengthening the theoretical foundation through a Weberian lens," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 33-50.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lorena Bašan & Ivan Butković & Kristina Črnjar, 2025. "Empowering Gen Z for Engaging in Sustainable Tourism: A ZRETP Model Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
    2. Lei Yang & Dongbo Xu & Shuai Yuan, 2025. "The Progress of Ecotourism Research in China: Identifying Key Areas, Highlights, and Trends Through Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Singgih Purnomo & Suci Purwandari, 2025. "A Comprehensive Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Empowerment Model for Developing Sustainable Tourism Villages in Rural Communities: A Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-40, February.
    4. Arif Jameel & Abid Hussain & Shahida Kanwel & Wenjing Guo, 2025. "Advancing sustainable rural tourism in China: the role of system development and community support through a moderated mediation model," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Fengli Dong & Yue Zhang & Zhaoguo Wang, 2024. "Activation and Inheritance: Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in Agricultural Heritage Tourism Development—A Case Study on the Nanguo Pear Cultivation System in Anshan, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Freddy Espinoza-Figueroa & Dominique Vanneste & Byron Alvarado-Vanegas & Karina Farfán-Pacheco & Santiago Rodríguez-Girón & Victor Saquicela, 2025. "The Misunderstanding Between Tourism Resilience and Survival: Stakeholder Perceptions and Policy Effectiveness in Ecuador During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-33, April.

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