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A Comparative Study on the Promoting Effects of Different Tourism Development Models on Rural Revitalization: Case Studies from Two Typical Villages in China

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  • Huizhan Wang

    (School of Management, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Xinru Lu

    (School of Management, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

Abstract

This study aims to explore the pivotal role of rural tourism in addressing the “three rural issues” and promoting rural revitalization. This study selects two representative villages in China that adopt different models of tourism development: Shibadong Village in Huayuan County, Hunan Province, which adopts a government-led model, and Yuanjia Village in Lixian County, Shaanxi Province, which follows a community-led model. This study evaluates the impact of rural tourism on rural revitalization using the Entropy-TOPSIS method. Utilizing the IPA (Importance–Performance Analysis) method and an independent samples t -test, a comparative analysis of the two models was conducted to reveal the differences in the effects of rural tourism in promoting rural revitalization between the different models. This study reveals that rural tourism positively impacts the revitalization of rural industries, ecology, culture, talent, and organization. However, the effects of tourism in promoting rural revitalization vary across different tourism development models. This study further suggests that the “multiple interlocking model” may be the future trend of rural tourism development as it can better integrate the resources of the government, communities, and enterprises to achieve more effective rural revitalization. This study deepens the theoretical link between rural tourism and rural revitalization, providing concrete guidance for practice, especially in strategies that drive comprehensive rural revitalization through tourism. Future research should further explore the corporate-led model and the multiple interlocking model and track the evolution of tourism development models through longitudinal comparisons to adapt to the changing needs of rural development.

Suggested Citation

  • Huizhan Wang & Xinru Lu, 2025. "A Comparative Study on the Promoting Effects of Different Tourism Development Models on Rural Revitalization: Case Studies from Two Typical Villages in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-32, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:714-:d:1569520
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xue, Lan & Kerstetter, Deborah & Hunt, Carter, 2017. "Tourism development and changing rural identity in China," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 170-182.
    2. Yang Liu & Jiajun Qiao & Jie Xiao & Dong Han & Tao Pan, 2022. "Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Rural Revitalization and an Improvement Path: A Typical Old Revolutionary Cultural Area as an Example," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-24, October.
    3. Nanping Feng & Fenfen Wei & Kevin H. Zhang & Dongxiao Gu, 2018. "Innovating Rural Tourism Targeting Poverty Alleviation through a Multi-Industries Integration Network: the Case of Zhuanshui Village, Anhui Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, June.
    4. Yafei Wang & Zihan Zhao & Ming Xu & Zhixiong Tan & Jingwei Han & Lichen Zhang & Siying Chen, 2023. "Agriculture–Tourism Integration’s Impact on Agricultural Green Productivity in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Wookhyun An & Silverio Alarcón, 2020. "How Can Rural Tourism Be Sustainable? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-23, September.
    6. Gao, Jing & Wu, Bihu, 2017. "Revitalizing traditional villages through rural tourism: A case study of Yuanjia Village, Shaanxi Province, China," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 223-233.
    7. Pengfei Sun & Hong Cao, 2024. "Tourism Development and Rural Land Transfer-Out: Evidence from China Family Panel Studies," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, March.
    8. 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).
    9. Chenxi Li & Yingying Fang & Yizhong Wang & Yue Xu & Zhihong Zong & Yi Yang & Chennian Wang & Zhuoping Ou & Min Wang, 2024. "How can tourism help to revitalize the countryside? Content analysis based on the case of tourism enabling rural revitalization," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 20333-20354, August.
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