Study On Development Model And Potential Evaluation Of China’s Desert Tourism Area

Chinese deserts mainly distributes in the northwest region of Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. Compared with the developed eastern regions, these areas are sparsely populated, economically non-prosperous and ecologically fragile. To develop tourism will not only stimulate employment, promote local economic development and narrow the geographical wealth gap between the rich and the poor, but also will improve history and culture exploring in desert, ecological environment, regional harmonious development and other issues. In recent years, Chinese desert tourism has developed fast with more than 5 million people accommodation a year. And there is a group of new well-known attractions represented by Shapotou area and Mingshashan Crescent Lake scenic area. Based on tourist accommodation, construction of tourist attractions and travel comprehensive income, desert tourism developed faster than the overall development of Chinese tourism industry. But for the theoretical study of desert tourism, we still need a huge improvement.However, theoretical studies for desert tourism is relatively slow, especially the study on basic features of Chinese desert tourism areas development. Therefore, this dissertation discusses development model of Chinese desert tourism, analyzes basic features of Chinese desert tourism development on aspects of categories of desert tourism resources, conditions for rising of the desert tourism area, features of desert tourist flow and desert tourism area life cycle. Moreover, conclude development model of Chinese desert tourism area.According to national standard Classification, Investigation and Evaluation of Tourism Resources, by selecting Mingshashan, Shapotou and other 3 typical desert tourism area, this dissertation analyzes developing process and features of early phase of development and the underlying reasons from economic development, national policy, and social thought of the rapid development desert tourism area. Meanwhile, according to field research and official statistics data of typical desert tourism area, it analyzes features of demography, time distribution and spatial distribution of desert tourists. Tourism area life cycle theory and tourism stakeholder theory are used to analyze the life cycle of desert tourism places. And volunteers’tourism product design ideas are used in desert tourism products design. Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process are used to evaluate factors and their weights of desert tourism area. Searching evaluation index data from 29 desert regions Statistical Yearbook, the government report and other information resource, evaluation is processed on desert tourism development potential of these areas. Through the above process, here come the following conclusions.First, Chinese desert has diverse tourism resources and widely distribution. Natural desert tourism resources development is significantly better than humanities tourism resources. Second, economic development, sand industry theory, post-modern thought, eco-tourism, as well as Chinese macro environment for tourism industry development contribute to the rise of the desert tourist. Third, affected by tourism climate, aesthetic factors and holidays’ distribution, seasonal characteristics are significant of the desert tourist flow. Main affected factors of tourists’spatial distribution are the source distance and level of economic development. Fourth, desert tourist stakeholders include tourists, tourism enterprises, government departments, tourism employees, local communities, environmental agencies, academic experts and media. Different life-cycle stages have different tourism stakeholders. Fifth, development model of Chinese desert tourism can be summarized as "unique strengthen resources is the premise of development, government’s involvement in tourism industry is the condition for the high-speed development, integrated desert tourist attraction is the development direction, obtaining the economic, social and ecological benefits is the development goal." Sixth, under current policies and economic conditions, Chinese desert tourist areas can be divided into the optimal potential area, important potential area and potential area. Not all desert areas are suitable for desert tourism industry development.This dissertation summarizes the development model of Chinese desert tourism area, improves the theoretical system of desert tourism research and provides the necessary theoretical support for Chinese accelerated development of desert tourism industry. Conclusions are significant for desert tourism scientific planning and strategic tourism industry development.