Residents’ Perceptions of Tourism Gentrification in Traditional Industrial Areas Using Q Methodology

Boyu Lin, Woojin Lee and Qiuju Wang ()
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Boyu Lin: School of Community Resources & Development, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Woojin Lee: School of Community Resources & Development, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Qiuju Wang: Tourism College, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100101, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: Tourism gentrification in traditional industrial areas presents issues regarding the privatization of public spaces, transformation of public services to cater to tourists, erosion of community social bonds, and the commodification of regional consumption, which has far-reaching impacts on residents’ stress and their desire to relocate. This study aims to understand the impact of tourism gentrification from residents’ perspectives with a case study of the 798 Industrial Art Zone in Beijing, China. Using Q methodology, residents living in the community (N = 20) were involved in the interviews. The finalized statements (N = 26) were derived from the interviews. Based on the stress threshold theory, the results revealed four factors that influence residents’ stress: neighboring environment, community attachment, economic interest, and cultural identity. This study further proposes a framework with four dimensions (i.e., environmental, relational, economic, and emotional) to explain the relocation decision-making of residents in traditional industrial areas due to stress from interactions with migrants and visitors, and changes to the place-functions of industrial regions and communities. This study is the first to conceptualize tourism gentrification in traditional industrial areas by elucidating the residents’ stress. It provides practical guidance for policymakers and destination marketing organizations for promoting the sustainable development of industrial tourism.

Keywords: tourism gentrification; traditional industrial areas; relocation decision; residents’ stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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