Tourism destination evolution: a comparative study of Shi Cha Hai Beijing Hutong businesses’ and residents’ attitudes

Abstract

This paper reports results from comparative studies of residents and businesses in Shi Cha Hai Hutong, Beijing, for 2006 and 2008. The study illustrates the speed and scale of tourism development in China and is based on the global literature describing social, economic, environmental and cultural impacts of tourism as well as place attachment and identity. The 2006 sample comprised 400 residents, while the 2008 sample had 352; in both years, approximately 40 business managers and owners were interviewed. Results show that while businesses welcome tourism, residents are more ambiguous in their response patterns, which are characterized by "desirable" response sets, to some extent an unwillingness to criticize planning authorities and a sense that many respondents have little say in planning processes. Nonetheless, contrary to Doxey's Irridex model, the passing of time brings greater tolerance of tourism – a conclusion based in part on findings derived from a cluster analysis. It is noted that other factors also impinge on the Hutong, including a process of gentrification. Two key suggestions emerge, namely (1) city-based tourism research can be more closely linked with that of urban planning, and (2) processes of urban gentrification must be incorporated into the Butler model of destination evolution.