Ice-and-snow tourism in China: trends and influencing factors

Jianping Yang (), Yanxia Wang, Fan Tang, Xinyu Guo, Hongju Chen and Guangxi Ding
Additional contact information
Jianping Yang: Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources(NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Yanxia Wang: Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources(NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Fan Tang: Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources(NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Xinyu Guo: Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources(NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Hongju Chen: Lanzhou Jiaotong University
Guangxi Ding: Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources(NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Palgrave Communications, 2023, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Ice-and-snow tourism (IST) is central to the Chinese ice-and-snow economy and can help achieve the green transformation and expansion of the Chinese economy. However, IST has not been defined conclusively in China. In this study, the IST concept was analyzed, and the growth of both tourism types was described using an Event–Time–Space comprehensive analysis method. Two temporal phases with large increases were highlighted in both tourisms. The factors promoting their increases were analyzed from market demand, the Beijing 2022 Olympics Winter Games, and scientific and technological developments for ice and snow. The 2020–2021 decrease in IST was primarily attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, IST has dual challenges related to natural and socioeconomic factors. Climate warming has a long-term adverse effect on IST, particularly on glacier tourism. Traditional outdoor skiing tourism in Northeast China (NEC) may also be affected by more competition owing to increased ski tourism in the pan-Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XJUAR) and Southern China, as well as by the development of indoor skiing and ice/snow entertainment. These natural and socioeconomic factors currently limit the ability of IST to promote socioeconomic development in alpine areas, particularly in western China. However, there are many opportunities for future IST growth, including warmed comfort climate at high altitudes in the NEC, XJUAR and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, major glacier resource potentials, and IST development driven by policies. The findings of this study provide important information for decision-makers and investors in IST and its related industries.

Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-023-02288-4 Abstract (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-02288-4

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/palcomms/about

DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-02288-4

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Palgrave Communications from Palgrave Macmillan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().