Title: Agritourism sustainability in rural mountain areas of China: a community perspective

Authors: Fujun Shen, Stuart P. Cottrell, Kenneth F.D. Hughey, Keith Morrison

Addresses: Environment, Society and Design Division, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand. ' Department of Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. ' Environment, Society and Design Division, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln University, New Zealand. ' Environment, Society and Design Division, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln University, New Zealand

Abstract: This research analysed agritouirsm sustainability from the perspective of the rural families in Chongdugou village, China. Sustainability was measured through 28 survey items. Factor analysis grouped 17 items into four-dimensional indices which were computed as new variables (social, economic, environmental and institutional sustainability). Regression analysis examined the predictability of each sustainability dimension. All four dimensions combined to explain 17% of the variance in sustainability with the institutional dimension the strongest predictor. The findings indicate that overall agritourism business was not sustainable for the local community. Attention to community institutional concerns for community participation, democracy, care and justice are important items for future consideration.

Keywords: China; agritourism; tourism sustainability; mountain communities; family business; sustainable tourism; sustainable development; rural areas.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2009.022604

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.123 - 145

Published online: 18 Jan 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article