Spatial structure and influencing factors of an emerging wine tourism network: A case study of the Ningxia wine region
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
Publisher
Emerald
School
School of Business and Law
RAS ID
65028
Funders
NSF of China / NSSF of China / General Research Fund / Collaborative Research Fund / Research Grants Council, Hong Kong, China / Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development / The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Abstract
Purpose: Networks linking tourist attractions or organizations are a major focus of tourism research. Despite extensive research on tourism networks, academic research on the spatial structure and formation of wine tourism networks is limited. This study aims to investigate the spatial structure and factors influencing the development of a network among Ningxia wineries, an emerging wine tourism destination in China. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses social network analysis to uncover “what” the spatial structure of wine tourism networks looks like. Sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted among key stakeholders to explain the “why” of such structural characteristics. Findings: The results show that in an emerging wine tourism destination, popular tourist attractions enjoy high centrality and hold key positions in the wine tourism network. Small wineries exhibit high closeness centrality, and only one winery serves as a network broker. According to the stakeholders, the importance of network actors will increase as their economic and political importance increase, while small wineries that lack differentiation in the network may perish. Practical implications: Local governments can implement the suggested measures for improving network connections, and wineries are advised to find suitable positions to improve the experiences of tourists. Originality/value: This study pioneers the identification of the distinct structure and factors influencing the network of an emerging wine tourism destination, thus enriching the understanding of the interplay and roles of different actors.
DOI
10.1108/IJCHM-07-2023-0986
Access Rights
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Comments
Gu, Q., Ye, B. H., Huang, S., Wong, M. S., & Wang, L. (2024). Spatial structure and influencing factors of an emerging wine tourism network: A case study of the Ningxia wine region. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-07-2023-0986