Tourism and Strategic Planning: Learning From the Chinese Province of Hainan to Improve the Syrian Coastal Region

Abstract

This paper is an analytical study of tourism plans of China's Hainan Province and the Syrian coastal region before the Syrian war commenced in 2011. It compares the two types of tourism (in the Mediterranean and the Asia Pacific) and concludes with an integrated model of successful regional tourism. The focus is on strategic plans of the last two decades and how they facilitate tourism, specifically, how strategic plans can be translated into sustainable tourism development projects in both regions. The strategic plan in the Chinese case considers environmental, economic, institutional, and social characteristics of tourism development, which determines the necessary infrastructure and environment for the further development of tourism. This is contrasted with the absence of such a strategy in the case of Syria. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis. Qualitative research techniques were used to analyze the available data and to form a detailed description of the past, present, and future potential for tourism in the two regions. The study measures transportation, land use/land cover patterns, tourism and tourism development, urban development, and strategic plans. It applied the lessons learned from Chinese tourism innovations in Hainan to propose an executive plan for sustainable tourism development in the Syrian coastal region once the present war has ended. This requires the active participation of all relevant stakeholders from almost every domain despite differing interests. It further requires improving the integration of three separate developmental factors (social, environmental, and economic) as complementary rather than conflicting elements.

The Role of Cultural Routes in Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case Study of Syria’s Spiritual Route

“…In addition to finances, institutions and stakeholder involvement are crucial at national and international levels to provide visibility to the project [26]. Such collaboration would facilitate identification, documentation, planning, implementation, and promotion of the itinerary.…”

“…Thus, cultural routes can act as a sustainable development tool for marginal or rural areas capitalization and establishment [25]. Syria currently faces fragmented tourism, but new approaches to international tourism are now being considered to contribute to the local budget [26,27].…”

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“…There are several small uninhabited islands on the Syrian coast, and there is the inhabited and well-known island of Arwad, which is a distinct destination for tourists. In the last century, the Syrian coast also witnessed the development of large marine facilities, including a commercial port in Lattakia, a commercial port and an oil terminal in Tartus, and the Baniyas oil port (Dayoub et al 2018). Dayoub et al 2018).…”

“…In the last century, the Syrian coast also witnessed the development of large marine facilities, including a commercial port in Lattakia, a commercial port and an oil terminal in Tartus, and the Baniyas oil port (Dayoub et al 2018). Dayoub et al 2018). The airport is located 25 kilometers south of Latakia and operates as a national and regional airport with regular flights to Sharjah, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Cairo.…”

“…The Mediterranean is warm enough to swim from June to October. There is a mountain range behind the coast, which is 1,562 meters (5,125 feet) high and separates the Mediterranean from the mainland (Musa 1997, Dayoub et al 2018.…”