Intangible cultural heritage listing and tourism growth in China

ABSTRACT

Using city-level data over the 2000–2018 period, we examine the impact of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) listing on international tourism (i.e. international tourist arrivals and income from international tourism) in China. China uses two parallel ICH classifications: ICH projects and ICH inheritors. Empirical evaluation based on difference-in-difference (DID) methodology shows that both ICH projects and ICH inheritors listing used in China have a positive and statistically significant effect on international tourism. Trend analysis shows that ICH listing contributes to a long-term positive trend in international tourism in China. Finally, based on the positive relationship between ICH listing and the probability of being designated as an excellent tourism city (and its positive effect on international tourism), we argue that city-level cultural brand development is a plausible mechanism behind the positive effect of ICH listing on international tourism in China.

KEYWORDS:

• Intangible cultural heritage listing
• international tourist arrivals
• income from international tourism
• difference-in-difference
• China

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Data from Protection Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Guizhou Province(www.gzfwz.org.cn).

2 Excellent tourism cities of China designation are based on the Interim Measures for the Management of the Work for Creating Excellent Tourism Cities in China and the Inspection Standards for Excellent Tourism Cities in China, the former State Tourism Administration selected excellent tourism cities. Since the establishment of the excellent tourism cities in China in 1998, by the end of 2010, 337 cities were recognized as excellent tourism cities in nine batches (https://www.topchinatravel.com/china-guide/china-excellent-tourism-cities.htm). For empirical analysis, we matched all the data to the prefecture level cities from 2000 to 2018.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Na Tan

Na Tan is currently the associate professor in School of International Trade and Economics, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, China. She obtained her Ph.D from DongHua University, China. She was the visiting scholar in Queensland University of Technology. Her research interest includes cultural economy, tourism economy, cultural and creative industries. Her work has been published in China Soft Science Magazine, Contemporary Finance & Economics, Asia-pacific Economic Review, Dongyue Tribune, etc.

Sajid Anwar

Sajid Anwar is currently the professor in School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the Sunshine Coast, USC. He obtained his Ph.D from University of British Columbia. His research interest includes international economics and international business. His work has been published in Applied Economics, Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, International Review of Economics & Finance, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, etc.

Wanxing Jiang

Wanxing Jiang is currently the lecturer/assistant professor in School of Business Administration, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, China. She obtained her Ph.D from Hong Kong Baptist University. Her research interest includes tourism economy, environmental protection, human resource management, creativity and organizational innovation. Her work has been published in Business Management & Industrial Marketing, Business Strategy and the Environment, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Journal of Management and Organization, Employee Relations and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, etc.