COVID-19 Impacts on the Spatial Network of City Tourism in Fujian Province, China

Huimin Song (), Wei Zeng, Jamie M. Chen and Emily Ma
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Huimin Song: College of Tourism, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362000, China
Wei Zeng: College of Tourism, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362000, China
Jamie M. Chen: College of Business, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Emily Ma: Department of Hospitality and Events, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: This study examined the tourism spatial distribution of nine cities in the Fujian province and assessed the impacts of COVID-19. The modified gravity model found that it was widely dispersed, with uneven and relatively independent tourism development in different cities. The social network analysis showed that tourism connections across cities were significantly reduced after the pandemic. The impacts of brand awareness and transport accessibility on spatial networks were positive in the pre-pandemic period but became negative during the pandemic. In contrast, tourist volume had negative impacts on spatial networks pre-pandemic but had positive ones during the pandemic. Tourism resources and market performance had significantly positive impacts in the post-pandemic era. These findings provide advice on tourism recovery and destination management in coping with future critical events. In the spatial distribution network of the tourism economy in Fujian Province, cities have different positions and roles, so development strategies should be differentiated according to the characteristics of each city. For example, more supportive policies should be introduced to help the tourism development of cities with disadvantages. It also contributes to the theoretical gravity framework in tourism and the research scope of the social networks analysis at the city level.

Keywords: spatial network; city tourism; pandemic; modified gravity model; social network analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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