Place Attachment and Heritage Tourism at the Great Wall

Heritage tourism at the Great Wall of China, particularly at Badaling and Mutianyu sections, significantly enhances local residents' place attachment. This study found that tourism development boosts their pride in their community, strengthens emotional and functional ties to their hometown, and increases willingness to stay while providing employment opportunities. Questionnaire surveys conducted in 2008 revealed that residents experienced heightened recognition of the Great Wall's value and attractiveness, suggesting that heritage tourism can foster positive sociocultural impacts. The findings offer practical insights for planning and managing sustainable heritage tourism.

Su, M. M., & Wall, G. (2010). Place Attachment and Heritage Tourism at the Great Wall. Journal of China Tourism Research, 6(4), 396–409. https://doi.org/10.1080/19388160.2010.527577