Evaluation of Risks Related to Transfer of Rural Housing Land for Tourism Development in the Context of “Separation of Three Rights” Reform in China

In this paper, based on a field survey on typical villages in a Chinese metropolis suburb, we employ a risk matrix and the Borda ranking method to evaluate risks related to transfer of rural housing land for tourism development from the perspectives of different stakeholders. We also make suggestions regarding how to standardize transfers and revitalize utilization of rural housing land use rights. Combining qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis, the risk matrix determines the various risk levels faced by different stakeholders in the circulation of rural housing land for tourism development from two dimensions: risk impact degree and risk occurrence probability. Then, the Borda ranking method can subdivide the risk types within each risk level, thus identifying the most critical risks. Our results indicate that (1) unfair distribution of income from land transfers is the major risk faced by farm households and directly decides their willingness to transfer their housing land; (2) market instability is the prime risk factor faced by social investors, and together with project progress risk, indirectly leads to occurrence of operation risk and severely affects the motivation of social investors to invest in transfer, development and operation of rural housing land for tourism development; (3) disappearance of countryside characteristics is the critical risk factor faced by village collectives, and coordination and management risk is the main impediment that blocks the process of transfer of rural housing land for tourism development; and (4) other risks confronted by stakeholders in land transfer, although not the main ones, still need to be granted great importance and followed up closely. Therefore, it is necessary not only to establish appropriate risk avoidance measures for different critical risk factors faced by different stakeholders of such land transfers, but also to strengthen study of the association between the risks, identify the conduction effect of direct and indirect risks, macro and micro risks, and before action and after action risks, and improve the ability to prevent and mitigate these risks.

A Framework for Sustainable Tourism Development in and around National Parks

The proliferation of tourism to U.S. national parks yields increasing demands for service and conservation programs that are well-matched with the broadening view of sustainability management in and around PPAs. As such, there is a critical need for research regarding holistic perspectives on planning and monitoring sustainable development. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is a non-profit, independent organization that develops and manages global baseline standards for sustainable travel and tourism, known as the GSTC Criteria. The GSTC Destination Criteria have not been widely applied to PPAs, yet these criteria may offer a useful guiding framework for sustainable tourism development in PPAs. Therefore, this study explores the utility of the GSTC Destination Criteria as a tool for assisting managers at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) in developing a destination-level sustainability plan. In August 2018, we conducted a sustainability evaluation using the GSTC Destination Criteria. Specific areas of success and improvement were identified, and park managers are using this information to improve the park’s strategic plan. The results of this evaluation are reviewed and critiqued within our broader assessment of the utility of the GSTC Destination Criteria in national park planning.

Government Policies on Agro-Tourism in Indonesia

In developing countries, tourism positions the government not just as a policymaker, but also as a party that assists in the implementation of policies. Government initiatives towards the promotion of agro-tourism, for example, are implemented by agro-tourism-related legislation and policies. However, agro-tourism development has not been optimal due to a lack of communication and coordination between parties, as well as inadequate execution of legislation or regulations controlling agro-tourism. The purpose of this study was to assess and examine government agro-tourism legislation and policies in Indonesia. The study is qualitative in nature, evaluating and analysing ten government's agro-tourism legislation and policies, with data collected through document analysis and in-depth interviews and analysed descriptively. The findings demonstrate that the government's agro-tourism regulations include controlling cross-sectoral collaboration in agro-tourism development, certification for agro-tourism guides, the establishment of agro-tourism commissions, and agro-horticulture business arrangements, among other things. Regulations and policies are ineffectual because there is a lack of engagement, coordination, and synergy among the parties involved in agro-tourism. Collaboration is required not just in terms of bureaucracy, but also in terms of resources in order to establish, promote, and maintain agro-tourism sustainability. The suggestions and limitations of the current study are also discussed.