Tourism space reconstruction of a world heritage site based on actor network theory: A case study of the Shibing Karst of the South China Karst World Heritage Site

Research on the Shibing Karst, part of the South China Karst World Natural Heritage Site, reveals that its transformation into a world heritage tourism space involved two distinct phases: normal tourism destination construction and world heritage site construction. During these phases, the actor network evolved significantly, with key changes in actors' intentions, governance mechanisms, and roles. The study found that the People's Government of Shibing County played a central role in the initial phase, while international enterprises and residents gained more influence during the heritage phase, alongside supervisory rights from UNESCO bodies. These shifts in actor networks and power dynamics were identified as critical factors affecting the sustainable development of tourism and the economic growth of heritage sites.

Wang, L., & Xiao, S. (2020). Tourism space reconstruction of a world heritage site based on actor network theory: A case study of the Shibing Karst of the South China Karst World Heritage Site. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 8(2), 140–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2020.05.005