Spatial Patterns of China’s Ski Resorts and Their Influencing Factors: A Geographical Detector Study

Yan Fang, Yiyi Jiang, Chin-Hsun Ken Tsai, Binghao Luo and Ming-Hsiang Chen
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Yan Fang: School of Recreational Sports and Tourism, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
Yiyi Jiang: School of Recreational Sports and Tourism, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
Chin-Hsun Ken Tsai: Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management, College of Human Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1078, USA
Binghao Luo: School of Recreational Sports and Tourism, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
Ming-Hsiang Chen: School of Hospitality Business Management, Carson College of Business, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4742, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: This study uses geographic information systems (GIS) and geographical detector techniques to explore the national and regional pattern of the spatial distribution of China’s ski resorts, and quantitatively identifies the main factors that influence their location. Results show that although China’s ski areas are geographically clustered, ski resorts are more likely to be located at high latitudes (northeast and northwest China) than at low latitudes (central and south China). Among the most influential factors are the winter sporting mega-events that explain 70% of the location of China’s ski areas; the 2022 Winter Olympics accounted for 14%. The main factors that contribute to the distribution of ski areas depend on the regions and types of ski resorts. Implications for the ski resorts industry, such as the different practice for hot and cold spot areas of China’s ski resorts, and the future development direction of ski industry, are discussed.

Keywords: ski resorts; geographic information systems (GIS); spatial analysis; geographical detector; influence factors; Winter Olympics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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