No abstract

For the past twenty years, both the national economy and tourism sector in China have been very much shaped and affected by the issue of land. This study examines the role of the existing land tenure and allocation system in Chinese tourism development, and attempts to understand the issue through a case study of the Nanhai Tourist Industrial Park in Guangdong province. The park, whilst innovative in its integrated design model, is beholden to the current land allocation system, which this study finds is insufficiently adapted to support the project. Consequently, the park represents a high risk for investors and a potential for misuse of land that affects local communities. Recommendations are provided to adapt and improve land policy for tourism development.