Abstract
This study investigates the functions of international tourism hubs, namely, the gathering and distributing function, transferring function, and management and service function. An assessment index of 49 indicators is developed measuring these functions based on the literature review and a survey of expert panel. Analytical hierarchy process method was applied to determine the importance weight of the indicators. Two cities in China, Beijing and Shanghai, were selected to empirically test the assessment index and compared with the tourism hub functions. The results indicate that Beijing has stronger functions on gathering and distributing tourists, as well as management and services, while Shanghai exceeded on transferring function due to its tourist distribution center. Strategic and managerial implications and suggestions are provided based on the study results.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1225-1244 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Tourism Economics |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank Ms Luhong Jiang for her assistance and coordination in the projects and this manuscript. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was funded by Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Grant no: 9132006) and Beijing Social Science Foundation (Grant no: 15JDJGA006).
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2016.
Keywords
- AHP analysis
- Assessment index
- China
- International tourism hub
- Transportation hub
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management