A Research On The Development History Of Modern Tourism In Zhangjiajie

Tourism history research hasn't been touched in the range of tourism research and history research, let alone in the range of modern tourism history research. Zhangjiajie modern tourism development, not only an epitome of Chinese modern tourism development, but also typically representing the modern tourism development of Chinese inland and remote areas, has undergone a period of more than twenty years. At the beginning of the 21-century, Chinese tourism is still fast developing and Zhangjiajie is steadily going ahead according to the principle of "sustainable development". Therefore, it's urgent to objectively unfold the development of Zhangjiajie modern tourism and systematically make a conclusion for the good experiences and lessons.After thoroughly analyzing the international, domestic and regional backgrounds where Zhangjiajie modern tourism emerges and develops, this paper divides Zhangjiajie modern tourism development history into two periods: evolving period for domestic tourist destination (1982 -1991), and developing period for international tourist destination (1992 -), with the founding of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the acceptance to the World Natural Heritage as the dividing lines. From the angle of the tourist places, this paper discusses the basic developing process and the important history events in the two developing periods. As well, this paper mainly analyses the economic and environmental influences of the modern tourism development of Zhangjiajie.The main points and the research conclusions of this paper are as follows:The modern tourism in Zhangjiajie begins and develops in the time when the Chinese modern tourism didn't revive in an all-round way. World-class tourism resources lie there, side by side with the poor regional economic background and the remote geographical position.This situation determines the evolving and developing process and destination of Zhangjiajie modern tourism. The aesthetic value represented by the Wulingyuan quartzite sandstone hills is the core of Zhangjiajie tourism resources. Modern tourism development, although being restricted by the backwardness of the industrial civilization, applies many opportunities for Zhangjiajie to be promoted from the agricultural civilization to the modern civilization.The founding of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park marked the beginning of Zhangjiajie modern tourism. The internal factors of modern tourism development have given impetus to the changes in Zhangjiajie regional administration system. Hence, Zhangjiajie City came into being. Being listed in the World Natural Heritage is a turn in the course of Zhangjiajie's development from the domestic tourism area to the international tourism area. "A well-known scenic spot at home and abroad" has been set as a fundamental goal for Zhangjiajie's modern tourism and social economic development.Developing tourism is the historical choice of Zhangjiajie for its regional economic development. While tourism economic interest is the main impetus to prompt the development of its modern tourism. During the 20 years of developing modern tourism, Zhangjiajie has got a lot of the central and local governmental investments and attracted much out-regional investment, which greatly influences the regional economy. In developing modern tourism on the base of the backward economy in Zhangjiajie, the financial support of the central and local governments works effectively and crucially. The increasing tourism revenue directly leads to the local economic increase and the essential change in the industrial structure. Nevertheless, the "polar" status of the tourism hasn't been shown until the end of 1990s. Tourism driving strategy hasn't given much impetus to the local agriculture and industry. The western traditional tourism economic theories, while estimating the tourism economic influences in Zhangjiajie, aren't applicable and believable because they briefly apply the experiences of other countries and regionsto the estimation of Zhangjiajie's tourism economy without considering...