The Impact of Institutions on the Evolution of Tourism Accommodation Format: Evidence from Wulingyuan, China

Ting Jiang, Shaobing Zhuo, Chaozhi Zhang and Jun Gao
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Ting Jiang: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
Shaobing Zhuo: Shenzhen Jiuzhoushili Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, China
Chaozhi Zhang: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
Jun Gao: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of institutions on evolution of tourism accommodation format in Wulingyuan, a well-known tourist destination in China, from the perspective of institutional cluster embeddedness. Data were primarily collected through interviews and participant observations. The findings show a five-stage evolution process starting from introduction (1982–1988), through growth (1989–2000), adjustment (2001–2004), and upgrade (2005–2010) to the current stage of individualization (2011–present). During the process, the informal institutions work to suppress, conflict with the formal institutions, yet transform into formal institutions in the end. In such a process, institutional loopholes and frictions are the norm, and tourism accommodation format evolves from extensive development to sustainable development. It suggests that the sustainable development of the tourism accommodation industry needs the synergy of formal and informal institutions.

Keywords: format evolution; institutional embeddedness; formal institution; informal institution; tourism accommodation; sustainable tourism development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:10:p:2882-:d:232943

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