A Method of selecting potential development regions based on GPS and social network models – from the perspective of tourist behavior

A novel method for selecting potential development regions in scenic areas, such as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, has been developed by integrating GPS tracking and social network analysis. The study identifies two key types of regions—those near core attractions and those exhibiting clustering behavior—by analyzing the spatial-temporal movements of 312 tourists on Gulangyu Island, a renowned heritage site in China. This approach combines tourist flow structures with inter-regional relationships to provide deeper quantitative insights for sustainable tourism planning. Unlike previous research that focused solely on GPS visualization, this method bridges the gap between behavioral data and development strategies, offering a more comprehensive tool for spatial analysis in tourism.

Li, Y., Xie, J., Gao, X., & Law, A. (2018). A Method of selecting potential development regions based on GPS and social network models – from the perspective of tourist behavior. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 26(2), 183–199. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2018.1515092