Title: The effect of public participation on resource exploitation in heritage sites and national parks: case study of Western China

Authors: Cheng Li

Addresses: Tourism School, Sichuan University; Cultural Industries Research Centre, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, P.R. China

Abstract: With the rapid development of the Chinese economy, especially through the enforcement of the strategy of developing the Western Region, conflict over the exploitation and protection of natural resources in heritage sites and national parks (between the government, exploiters and the public) has frequently become a focus that concerns people widely. By analysing three important cases of the public influencing resource exploitation, this paper studies public participation in current China|s heritage sites and national parks, demonstrates the ideal framework of sustainable exploitation in heritage sites and national parks under the public influence, shows the different results between ideal and reality, and also reveals the present situation and rules of resource exploitation in heritage sites and national parks in China.

Keywords: public participation; national parks; China; resource exploitation; economic development; environmental protection; UNESCO; world heritage sites; nature reserves; tourist industry; tourists; tourism; sustainability; sustainable development; services management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2010.032082

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2010 Vol.13 No.3/4, pp.263 - 280

Published online: 09 Mar 2010 *

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