Constraints of Rural Tourism’s Contribution to Local Economic Development and Intervention Mechanisms—Evidence from Shandong Province, China

Amare Nega Wondirad (), Yuanqi Cui, Yue Ma and Jingya Wang
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Amare Nega Wondirad: Department of Tourism and Heritage, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
Yuanqi Cui: School of Economics and Management, Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan 250357, China
Yue Ma: School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia
Jingya Wang: College of Geography and Tourism, Handan University, 530 North College Road, Hanshan District, Handan 056005, China

Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: For visitors who live in the modern, hectic, and bustling city life, rural destinations provide an alternative to escape in a serene environment. Rural tourism also promotes community development, rural restructuring, and capital redistribution. Prior studies paid little attention to the role that rural tourism plays in local economic development. Particularly, what hinders rural tourism’s contribution to sustainable local economic development is inadequately examined. To address this gap in the literature, the current study explores the contribution of rural tourism to local economic development, using Shandong Province as a context. Research participants perceive that rural tourism makes positive contributions to sustainable local economic development by increasing household income, facilitating capital redistribution, and promoting rural entrepreneurship. However, its contribution has been constrained by financial, structural, marketing, and technological factors. Research implications are discussed, and avenues for future research are suggested.

Keywords: rural tourism; local economic development; local communities; poverty alleviation; Shandong province; sustainable development; People’s Republic of China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z3 Z30 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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