Sustainable Tourism Development: A of Shenzhen, China - Case Study Example

Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case Study of Shenzhen, China

Abstract

As a tourist destination, the lack of a focus on environmental, economic and socio cultural aspects of tourism is hampering the sustainable development of the sector. Despite the potential of Shenzhen’s tourism industry, various factors are hampering the long-term development of the sector. Such factors include, for instance, overemphasis on industrialization at the expense of environmental sustainability. In addition, the government interference in the sector is also affecting negatively on the sustainable development of Shenzhen’s tourism. Similar to other first tier cities, Shenzhen is also still recovering from decades of isolation and an emphasis on a closed economy as evident on the reluctance to market the city abroad as a tourist destination. Foreign visitors are also reluctant to visit Shenzhen due to health concerns exacerbated by poor quality of air. In addition, lack of an emphasis on promoting cultural exchange between visitors and host communities is also affecting Shenzhen’s growth as a tourist destination. Addressing the factors that are hampering the sustainable development of tourism in Shenzhen require the key stakeholders to undertake initiatives that can ensure such challenges becomes minimal. In essence, the tourism sector in Shenzhen can achieve long-term sustainability by addressing environmental, economic and socio cultural aspects of tourism.

Key words: Tourism in Shenzhen, environment and tourism, economic development and tourism, socio cultural awareness and tourism, sustainable tourism.

1.0 Introduction

While Shenzhen is a booming town that is situated directly north of Hong Kong, many foreign visitors to the former British colony are unaware of the tourism potential in Shenzhen, China. Today, Shenzhen epitomizes the face of modern China, and is considered among the most vibrant cities in China (Thomas, 2016). However, despite its tourism potential, sustainability remains a challenge for the tourism industry in Shenzhen. Some of the tourist attractions that places Shenzhen’s tourism industry in the international map include Diwang Building, considered the tenth tallest building in the world. Additional tourist attractions include, for instance, He Xiangning Art Museum, Mangrove National Park and historical sites such as Dapeng Ancient Fort and Tomb of the Young Song Emperor (Thomas, 2016). Despite tourism bringing significant foreign income that can be used to propel economy of Shenzhen, there is need for an emphasis on sustainable development of the sector other than just a focus on the monetary gains (Liu, 2003). In this respect, Clarke (1997), note that sustainable tourism development entails promoting environmental, economic and socio cultural aspects of tourism. In essence, this is an area where the Shenzhen tourism industry is currently failing to address.

2.0 Case Presentation

Shenzhen is facing a challenge in terms of ensuring that its tourism industry can embrace sustainable development with a focus on environmental, economic and social cultural development. According to Tang, Shi and Liu, (2011) the sustainability of China’s tourism sector is increasingly becoming a major challenge due to a number of presenting challenges. Such challenges manifest in the form of air pollution, health issues, government interference and reluctance to market China’s tourism industry abroad, and host communities’ reservations to interact with visitors (Xiao, 2013). Consequently, this is the situation facing Shenzhen today in its attempt to promote sustainable development in its tourism sector.

2.1 Climate change as a disruptor to tourism in Shenzhen

As one of the first tier cities in China, Shenzhen more than often experience poor air quality due to high levels of greenhouse gas emissions from industries and automobiles respectively (Chan & Yao, 2008). As noted by Satterthwaite (2008), greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming that in turn causes climate change. Climate change has a negative impact on species and ecosystems. In the case of Shenzhen, climate change is a threat to both the Mangrove and Wutong Mountain National Parks (Tylianakis, Didham, Bascompte & Wardle, 2008). The threat to both parks’ ecosystems is that a shift in climate due to global warming also affect the plants and animals that make both National Parts the center of tourism attraction. With the high levels of greenhouse gas emission in Shenzhen and China in general, the resultant shift in climate is altering the distribution of terrestrial ecosystems (Tyliankis et al., 2008). For instance, global warming causes species extinction particularly in sensitive regions (Kennedy et al., 2009). In this sense, the sustainability of vegetation and animals in both National Parks is still a problem due to high levels of greenhouse gas emissions in Shenzhen. The other threat likely to face both National Parks is the migration of plants and animals to habitats that can support their survival (McCarty, 2001).

2.2 Air pollution as a disruptor to tourism in Shenzhen

In the first tier cities in China that also include Shenzhen, the levels of smog in the atmosphere is persistent due to an increased focus on economic development at the expense of environmental sustainability (Hu & Jiang, 2013).

Fig 1: Have you seen Shenzhen in a pollution haze before?

Source: Shenzhenke, 2015

In Shenzhen, the level of air pollution is sometimes moderate; however, the air pollution in the city also tend to rise to levels considered unhealthy for human beings and other living organisms. The smog evident in Shenzhen is as a result of heavy traffic and high temperatures respectively. Further, some of the toxins that are associated with automobile emissions in Shenzhen include nitrogen oxide, PM 2.5 particles and carbon monoxide (Hu & Jiang, 2013). As a result, the health impacts that emanates from poor air quality in Shenzhen include respiratory and heart problems. Due to the poor air quality in Shenzhen, the rising health concerns are contributing to foreign tourists’ decision to avoid Shenzhen and visit other tourist destinations that are close to Shenzhen such as Hong Kong (Kan, Chen & Tong, 2012). In addition, other countries are also issuing travel advisory to Shenzhen on the grounds of poor quality of air that can cause serious health implications. For instance, the levels of pollution in China is considered to be at least 45 times higher than the recommended safety levels. In China, the leading cause of death is lung cancer as result of high levels of air pollution. Some of the worst affected cities include Shenzhen (Wang & Hao, 2012).

2.3 Government interference as a disruptor to tourism in Shenzhen

Further, government interference also has a negative impact on the sustainable development of Shenzhen’s tourism sector. Due to a focus on protectionist policies, the government involvement in regulating the number of foreign investors is derailing the growth of the tourism sector in Shenzhen (Airey & Chong, 2010). As a result, the tourism sector in Shenzhen compared to other destinations such as Hong Kong still lags behind in terms of foreign exchange earnings that can in turn be used to improve infrastructure in the sector and efficiently manage the tourist attraction sites. In addition, the low development of the tourist sector in Shenzhen due to government interference is also affecting negatively on the sector’s potential to create employment opportunities for the Shenzhen population.

The government’s interference in Shenzhen’s tourism industry and other tourist destinations across China is evident on the restrictions issued to visitors from countries that have strained relationship with China. In addition, foreign firms in the tourism sector do not have absolute control, and as such, are likely to move to more liberalized markets (Zhang & Chong, 1999). Recently, the Chinese government issued a travel ban for visiting tourists from South Korea. As a result, the move is causing widespread uncertainty as prospective investors try to figure out the motive of the Chinese government. The impact in this sense is the loss of foreign direct investment and Shenzhen’s reputation as a tourist destination that can enhance not only the development of the tourism sector but also the economy of Shenzhen (Luedi, 2016). Further, while the domestic tourism in Shenzhen is thriving, a focus on protectionist policies is affecting negatively on the intentions of foreign investors to collaborate with local investors in Shenzhen’s tourism sector. As a result, the Shenzhen tourist sector is struggling to maintain a competitive edge over other tourism destinations across the border such as Hong Kong due to the lack of knowledge sharing that they can gain by partnering with foreign investors. (Monica, Horng & Christine Sun, 2009). A focus on attracting in bound tourists would enable Shenzhen and China to become the leading tourist destination by the year 2020 (Monica, Horng & Christine Sun, 2009).

The tourism industry is not static but continues to experience constant changes that are influenced by the current demands of global tourism. As a result, an emphasis on promoting domestic tourism while ignoring the benefits that foreign investors can bring to the sector is contributing to the laggardness evident in Shenzhen’s tourism industry. Over the years, an emphasis on a closed economy has contributed to the lack of interest in China’s tourism sector by foreign visitors. While there has been a transformation in terms of a focus on opening its economy, the ripple effects of a closed economy still impact negatively on tourist destinations such as Shenzhen (Xiao, 2013).

2.4 China’s emphasis on a closed economy in the past

As a result of China’s emphasis on a closed economy in the past, the local investors are still reluctant to market Shenzhen’s tourist attractions abroad but instead, are more focused on targeting domestic tourism that is thriving in the modern China. However, such a focus is detrimental to Shenzhen’s tourism sector as a result on missing out on foreign direct investment and income that can be channeled to sustain the development of the sector compared to the income generated from domestic tourism that mostly end up being used to improve other government projects not related to the tourism sector (Xiao, 2013).

2.4 Cultural tourism as an untapped resource in Shenzhen

Attracting more visitors to Shenzhen require the key stakeholders to also focus their attention on promoting cultural exchange between the visitors and host communities (Hughes, 1995). As a society that has previously isolated itself from the outside world, most foreign visitors tend to overlook the need to visit tourist attraction sites in China. In essence, with the rise of security concerns around the world, the decision by foreign tourists to travel abroad is increasingly being influenced by factors such as cultural awareness to improve understanding and interaction between the visitors and host communities (Lee, 2013).

2.5 Management and outcome of the factors affecting sustainable tourism development in Shenzhen

According to Liu (2003), sustainable tourism development denotes a focus not only on the economic but also the environmental and social cultural aspects of tourism. As a result, the principles associated with an emphasis on sustainable tourism development include optimizing the environmental resources such as maintaining the ecological processes and a focus on conserving natural heritage and biodiversity respectively. In addition, a focus on the socio-cultural aspects of tourism plays a role in enhancing the relationship between the foreign visitors and the host communities. Such a focus as noted by Hughes (1995) also play a role in enhancing the understanding of different cultures, traditions and values thus contributing to cultural tolerance. Further, other than a focus solely to the economic gains of the tourism industry, Clarke (1997) observes that giving attention to the viability of long term economic activities that include, for instance, the promotion of socio-economic gains to all the stakeholders involved in the industry contribute significantly to its sustainability in the long run. On this note, embracing sustainable tourism development in Shenzhen require the key stakeholders in the industry to focus their attention on promoting environmental wellbeing, socio-economic development and cultural tolerance (Liu, 2003).

With regard to environmental wellbeing, Shenzhen and China in general faces a serious problem in terms of addressing the rising levels of greenhouse gas emissions that in turn is causing adverse climate change. As a result, the danger for the sustainable development of Shenzhen tourism is that the tourist sites are adversely affected by the harsh climate conditions caused by global warming. Over the years the first tier cities in China that include Shenzhen have largely focused on industrializing as a way to fast track economic development; however, the increased burning of fossil fuels to power such industries is increasingly affecting the air quality in Shenzhen. Consequently, attracting foreign visitors to the city becomes a challenge due to health concerns (Xiao, 2013).

In this respect, Liu (2003) reiterates that in order to safeguard the environment as a way of promoting the sustainability of the species and ecosystems in the tourism sector, there is need for the implementation of policies that obligates industries to reduce their carbon foot print. In addition, since the major cause of air pollution in Shenzhen is vehicle emission, there is need for the local authorities and other stakeholders in Shenzhen’s tourism industry to collaborate in terms of coming up with initiatives that can ensure the air pollutions emanating from vehicle emissions becomes minimal. For instance, the local authorities might want to consider introducing by-laws that require all vehicles to use unleaded fuel. Such an endeavor is necessary to help the city to reduce, for instance, the levels of smog that is increasingly influencing the decision of other countries to issue travel advisory to their citizens intending to visit various tourist attractions in Shenzhen and China in general (Clarke, 1997).

Conversely, sustainable tourism development in Shenzhen entails ensuring that all the stakeholders can gain from the sector. In this sense, the tourism sector should not be used solely to generate income for the local government in Shenzhen but also promote socio-economic development of the population in Shenzhen. As such, a viable and sustainable economic processes in the sector needs to focus on creating employment for the Shenzhen locals to help improve their living standards and to reduce poverty levels. The income that Shenzhen generates from both foreign and domestic tourism is substantial and thus needs to be channeled to improve the lives of the local communities who act as the custodians of the attraction sites in Shenzhen (Xiao, 2013).

In essence, overlooking the need to improve the living standards of the local communities in Shenzhen can lead to a number of social ills, which can in turn, impact negatively on the tourist sector. As such, a focus on socio-economic development by the key stakeholders in Shenzhen’s tourism sector is a necessary for its long term sustainability (Waligo, Clarke & Hawkins, 2013). On the other end of the spectrum, cultural understand and tolerance is increasingly playing a role in influencing the decision of tourists across the globe regarding the most hospitable destinations to visit. For example, while Shenzhen is recognized for its magnificent tourist attraction sites, more visitors are increasingly ignoring Shenzhen but visiting its neighboring tourist destinations such as Hong Kong. In this sense, it is important for the stakeholders in Shenzhen tourism sector to also embrace cultural tourism as a way to promote the exchange of cultures, and improve cultural understanding and tolerance. In essence, a focus on the three principles of sustainable tourism development that include the environmental, economic and social cultural dimensions of tourism can play an important role in facilitating the long term sustainability of Shenzhen’s tourism industry (Liu, 2003).

3.0 Discussion

Shenzhen has the potential of developing a sustainable tourism sector; however, a number of factors are hampering such a focus. For instance, the desire for rapid economic growth through an emphasis on industrialization at the expense of conserving the environment is contributing to major environmental catastrophes such as global warming due to high levels of greenhouse gas emissions from the numerous industries being set up in the city (Hu, Yang & Wu, 2003). Subsequently, the consequence of global warming includes climatic shifts that interfere with species and ecosystems. In this regard, the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions in Shenzhen pose a threat to some of the city’s tourist attractions that are regard as sensitive regions such as the Mangrove and Wutong Mountain National Parks respectively (Thomas, 2016).

Conversely, a lack of interest by the stakeholders to focus their attention on using the tourism sector to promote socio economic development in Shenzhen also hampers the sector’s long term sustainability. For instance, the tourism industry in Shenzhen can play an important role in providing employment opportunity to the local communities thus enhancing their living standards and reducing the social ills associated with high poverty levels that can affect negatively on the sustainability of Shenzhen’s tourism sector (Deery, Jago & Fredline, 2012). Further, the ripple effects of an emphasis on a closed economy in the past has contributed to a situation where potential visitors lack knowledge of the cultural aspects of host communities. As such, a focus on cultural exchange can help improve the sustainability of Shenzhen’s tourism industry since visitors will be better placed to understand the culture, values and traditions of the host communities thus enhancing cultural tolerance between the visitors and their hosts (Hughes, 1995).

In addition, cultural awareness is also a key factor that influences the decision on the ideal tourist destination to visit. As such, promoting cultural understanding and tolerance will ensure Shenzhen attract tourists in a similar manner to the neighboring tourist destinations such as Hong Kong. In essence, the case study of Shenzhen as a tourist destination shows that embracing sustainable development in the sector requires a focus on environmental, economic and socio cultural aspects of tourism (Liu, 2003).

4.0 Conclusion

To this end, the main challenges that are impeding on the sustainable development of Shenzhen’s tourism sector include lack of an emphasis on the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of the Shenzhen’s tourism industry. As a result, the key stakeholders in the industry need to focus their attention on safeguarding the environment, promoting the economic development of the sector by not only inviting foreign investors but also creating jobs for the local communities. In addition, there is also need for the stakeholders in Shenzhen’s tourism industry to promote cultural awareness between the visitors and host communities as a way to increase the number of inbound tourists in Shenzhen.