Chaozhi Zhang | Sun Yat-Sen University (original) (raw)

Papers by Chaozhi Zhang

Journal of Sustainable Tourism , 2017

Drawing on norm-activation theory, this study explores the link between tourists’ perceptions of ... more Drawing on norm-activation theory, this study explores the link between
tourists’ perceptions of the negative impacts of tourism and their
perceived responsibility. A proposed theoretical framework was examined
and verified through exploratory and confirmatory research processes.
Self-administered questionnaires were collected at two UNESCO World
Natural Heritage Sites in China. The findings of this research suggest that
tourists’ perceptions of the negative impacts of tourism positively affect
their ascription of responsibility, which positively influences tourists’
perceptions of responsibility. Nevertheless, the accessibility of information
about tourism impacts is far from enough to foster in tourists a sense of
responsibility, which is important for the promotion of responsible
behaviours. Several practical implications are provided to address tourists’
sense of responsibility, including enhancing tourists’ awareness of
negative tourism impacts, increasing the availability and accessibility of
information about tourism impacts, and recommending behaviours for
tourists to make a positive difference to destinations.

Asian Journal of Tourism Research, 2017

The concept of responsibility has always been closely tied to notions of powers and rights. Howev... more The concept of responsibility has always been closely tied to notions of powers and rights. However, current responsibility models such as ' corporate social responsibility' , ' responsible tourism' , and ' destination social responsibility' are limited in their explanations of stakeholders' powers and rights in the heritage tourism context. The current conceptualization of heritage responsibility poses a number of challenges, such as complicated subjects, ambivalent direction, and vague logic. Moreover, engaging with problems such as the asymmetric relationship between responsibility and rights, and the vague relationship between subject and object of responsibility, has been hampered by a lack of sufficient philosophical grounding. The paper addresses this gap by reanalyzing responsibility in the heritage tourism context using Levinas' ethics of responsibility. This study argues the following: a) Heritage responsibility is an ethical responsibility that agents undertake in the process of identifying, interpreting and representing heritage. This type of responsibility points not only to the subject-object (heritage) level, but also the intersubjective level, and consists of not only responsibility-for-the-self, but also responsibility-for-the-other. b) Heritage responsibility, from the perspective of Levinas' ethics of responsibility, features passivity, infinity, asymmetry, and pre-originariness, which accounts for the unequal distribution of rights and responsibilities in heritage conservation. c) Given these features of heritage responsibility, the discursive power of stakeholders must be recognized in order to ensure that agents with authority assume their share of responsibility. This paper further discusses the relationship between heritage responsibility and self-identity, cultural identity, and discursive power relations, and outlines issues for future research. Abstract: The concept of responsibility has always been closely tied to notions of powers and rights. However, current responsibility models such as 'corporate social responsibility', 'responsible tourism', and 'destination social responsibility' are limited in their explanations of stakeholders' powers and rights in the heritage tourism context. The current conceptualization of heritage responsibility poses a number of challenges, such as complicated subjects, ambivalent direction, and vague logic. Moreover, engaging with problems such as the asymmetric relationship between responsibility and rights, and the vague relationship between subject and object of responsibility, has been hampered by a lack of sufficient philosophical grounding. The paper addresses this gap by reanalyzing responsibility in the heritage tourism context using Levinas' ethics of responsibility. This study argues the following: a) Heritage responsibility is an ethical responsibility that agents undertake in the process of identifying, interpreting and representing heritage. This type of responsibility points not only to the subject-object (heritage) level, but also the intersubjective level, and consists of not only responsibility-for-the-self, but also responsibility-for-the-other. b) Heritage responsibility, from the perspective of Levinas' ethics of responsibility, features passivity, infinity, asymmetry, and pre-originariness, which accounts for the unequal distribution of rights and responsibilities in heritage conservation. c) Given these features of heritage responsibility, the discursive power of stakeholders must be recognized in order to ensure that agents with authority assume their share of responsibility. This paper further discusses the relationship between heritage responsibility and self-identity, cultural identity, and discursive power relations, and outlines issues for future research.

Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing , 2017

Drawn upon the brand attachment theory, this study examines the role of destination brand persona... more Drawn upon the brand attachment theory, this study examines the role of destination brand personality (DBP) and self-congruence in developing destination brand attachment (DBA) from the perspective of tourists. In particular, the study investigates whether DBP tends to match tourists’ ideal self or conforms more to the actual self during the DBA development process. The conceptual model is empirically tested with a sample of Chinese independent tourists in Yangshuo, China, a popular destination for this market segment. In addition to identifying the four DBP dimensions relevant to Yangshuo, the most important findings of this study rest on the mediating role of self-congruence between DBP and DBA. These findings suggest that congruence between the actual self and the DBP dimensions of Excitement and Charming contribute to the development of DBA, while the ideal self-congruence does not.

Tourism Management, 2018

By exploring the meditation camps in Nuonatayuan and Hongfa Temples, the paper examines what moti... more By exploring the meditation camps in Nuonatayuan and Hongfa Temples, the paper examines what motivates tourists to experience Zen meditation in Chinese temples, and how they shape those experiences. The study is based on participant observation and thus includes material drawn from observation, informal and formal interviews, personal experiences and secondary documentation. From the analysis, it can be seen that the meditative experience includes sacred and secular experiences, while in the commercial setting the experience shifts to and fro between secularism and sacredness. It is noted that the tourist context of separation from daily life, the landscape values of the locations, the temple atmosphere, the sharing of experiences with like-minded individuals, contact with monks and mentors all contribute to the senses of personal wellness that participants obtain.

Journal of Sustainable Tourism , 2017

This study investigates Chinese tourists’ views of nature, interest in animal experiences and the... more This study investigates Chinese tourists’ views of nature, interest in animal
experiences and their preferred natural landscape interpretation content
from a generational perspective. Eight hundred and eight selfadministered
questionnaires were collected at Wulingyuan, a UNESCO
World Natural Heritage Site, in China. It suggests that overall Chinese
traditional cultural values and beliefs, notably the thinking of tian ren he yi
(oneness of nature with humans), still have considerable impacts on Chinese tourists. They were found to have a strong sense of connection with nature and a preference for cultural interpretations of natural landscapes. Meanwhile, Chinese might be reaching a point of convergence in terms of attitude towards nature and animals with their Western counterparts, as reflected by their weak anthropocentric view,
and strong ethical and aesthetic appreciation of animals, regardless of generation cohorts. Yet, the study shows significant generational gaps: older generations have a stronger connection with nature, are more concerned about environmental issues and show more support for the Western approach towards nature protection; the younger generations hold weaker anthropocentrism, and are more interested in animals, yet are less likely to learn about nature through tourism interpretation.

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 2019

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the antecedents of local residents’ heritage resource pr... more Purpose – This study aims to investigate the antecedents of local residents’ heritage resource protection and conservation responsibility behaviors that were identified based on the conceptual premises of value orientation and identity theories for the purpose of providing further insight into the impact of residents’ identity on their responsibility behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach – The proposed model explores the impacts of place identity, place satisfaction and personal norms on local residents’ heritage resource protection and conservation responsibility behaviors, which was tested following a two-step structural equation modeling process using
data (N = 221) collected froma very popular heritage tourism destination, Phoenix Old Town, in China.

Findings – Findings show that value orientation and identity theories provide strong conceptual
frameworks for the relationships among place identity, place satisfaction and personal norms and their impacts on heritage responsibility behavior.

Practical implications – This research identifies critical factors influencing residents’ heritage responsibility behaviors in China. Improving residents’ identification and satisfaction with a place can have positive impacts on their understanding of heritage protection responsibility and their intention to take responsible actions for heritage resource protection and conservation.

Originality/value – This study addresses a research gap regarding residents’ role in the protection and conservation of heritage resources through developing and empirically testing a theoretical model that incorporates residents’ identity and responsibility perspectives.

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 2019

Purpose – This study aims to examine how tourism impacts on local community, managers’ attachment... more Purpose – This study aims to examine how tourism impacts on local community, managers’ attachment to the community and their identification with the value of heritage resources influence managers’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) attitudes, utilizing the value identification and agency theories.
Design/methodology/approach – The proposed hypotheses were tested utilizing cross-sectional data collected from 228 managers of a plethora of travel and tourism companies that operate at a UNESCO World Heritage site in China. A structured questionnaire was administered in person in managers’ offices by a team of trained research assistants. A total of 202 valid surveys were included in the data analysis. A two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to first examine the psychometric properties of the measurement model, and then test the causal relationships proposed in the structural model.
Findings – The findings indicate that managers’ place attachment, their heritage value identification and their perceptions of positive tourism impacts affect their CSR attitudes. However, the negative effects of tourism do not significantly influence CSR attitudes. Data collected through open-ended questions incorporated in the structured survey have provided justification for the insignificant relationship.
Originality/value – CSR perceptions of managers, especially those at heritage sites, have not received much attention from tourism scholars. Because travel and tourism companies at heritage sites are integral in the preservation and conservation of heritage sites while managers of those companies are the ones who initiate and implement socially responsible policies and practices, it is important to understand the factors that may influence those managers’ CSR attitudes and behaviors.

ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, 2018

This study explores how heritage value would be constructed against Outstanding Universal Value (... more This study explores how heritage value would be constructed against Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in the Chinese World Heritage tourism context. It does so from the tour guides’ perspective based on a case study of Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, a World Cultural Heritage Site. Data were mainly collected via participant observations and semi-structured interviews. The findings show that while the identified OUV underlines the materiality of the heritage site with a Eurocentric view, the guides tend to go beyond the built heritage to emphasize the people and activities related to it, transmitting a sense of “Chineseness” and place. Such culturally specific heritage value construction is a co-constructive and dynamic process involving multiple stakeholders: The national state promotes nation building via (world) heritage system, whereas local government, supported by local experts, underpins the World Heritage with locality, by which the heritage place is differentiated so as to make it attractive; trained with normative templates
embedded in state heritage discourse, guides seem to have established a sense of heritage identity and place; for domestic tourists, the expression of “Chineseness” is culturally appropriate and acceptable, while their regional difference allows a comparison that highlights the locality of the heritage place.

Annals of tourism research, 2019

This paper identifies changes in borderland tourism and their bordering consequences on the Daluo... more This paper identifies changes in borderland tourism and their bordering consequences on the Daluo-Mongla border in Xishuangbanna, China. It identifies three distinctive phases: (a) phase one (1991–2001)- rapid growth of organized cross-border tourist flow, (b) phase two (2002−2011)- stagnation and collapse of formal tourism sector yet emerging illegal cross-border tourist flow, and (c) phase three (2012-present)- resurrection and transition of border tourism. It illustrates the border-making agency of tourism, arguing tourism development at the border can be viewed as a re-bordering force. It analyzes an evolutionary process of changing power
structures, namely a dominant control of local states and market forces, a partial power shift towards national state and border communities, and a new dominance by the Chinese state.

Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change,, 2019

This paper examines the role of identity and cultural citizenship as cultural policy in tourism d... more This paper examines the role of identity and cultural citizenship as cultural policy in tourism development in the Tibetan ethnic area of Sichuan Province, China. The findings indicate that the Tibetans are building different cultural identities in response to government cultural policies. In Guannei, they actively claim their rights to a share of tourism profits at the expense of their culture, while in Guanwai, they have constructed a multicultural identity not only for preserving culture, but also for developing
it. The native Tibetans, therefore, are able to negotiate their identity based on their desire in contemporary society. The impact of tourism upon ethnic culture could be negative or positive and it depends on the identity of cultural citizenship. The paper explores the impact of tourism from a cultural citizenship perspective.

ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, 2019

This study tries to explore psychological components of memorable tourist experience (MTE) that a... more This study tries to explore psychological components of memorable tourist experience (MTE) that are most likely to recall tourists’ memories. Urban residents from three representative cities in China were selected as research samples, and totally 301 usable questionnaires were used for data analysis. The results showed that the recollection of MTE was positively affected by novelty, involvement and social interaction. It was also suggested that hedonism and novelty had positive effects on the vividness of MTEs significantly. Additionally, in the context of Chinese culture, two new psychological factors, social interaction and perceived serendipity, resulted in different effects on the MTE.

sustainability, 2019

A "cultural turn" from those early management focused studies to more wholesome and exploratory s... more A "cultural turn" from those early management focused studies to more wholesome and exploratory socio-cultural analysis of food with sociological approaches has emerged in more recent food tourism studies. In the Chinese tourism context, however, extant studies are mainly conducted with marketing approaches linked to management to analyze the role of (heritage) foods in tourist perception and experience, and destination marketing. This study thus seeks to understand the mechanism of food heritagization and its effect in Yuanjia Village, a renowned rural tourism destination featuring traditional delicacies in China's Shaanxi Province. Data were collected via interviews and participant observations. The findings show that, led by local elites and monitored by a bottom-up regulatory system, locals use raw materials associated with being "local", "traditional", and "organic", make food with traditional crafts, and present food in a nostalgic atmosphere for consumption. Traditional foods are reinvented/reproduced as edible exemplars of the culture and heritage of the Guanzhong area (central Shaanxi Plain), and as carriers of nostalgia for a rural past that satisfies the imaginations and needs of surrounding urbanite visitors. This, in turn, contributes to the sustainability of the village as a rural tourism destination, featuring industry convergence that fosters economic sustainability, as well as governance embedded in rurality to deal with tourism benefit distribution (i.e., cooperatives) and social problems (i.e., peasant school) that promotes social sustainability. This research contributes to the understanding of food heritagization from a bottom-up perspective as well as rural destination sustainability from a gastronomical perspective in China.

sustainability, 2019

This paper examines the impact of institutions on evolution of tourism accommodation format in Wu... more This paper examines the impact of institutions on evolution of tourism accommodation format in Wulingyuan, a well-known tourist destination in China, from the perspective of institutional cluster embeddedness. Data were primarily collected through interviews and participant observations. The findings show a five-stage evolution process starting from introduction (1982-1988), through growth (1989-2000), adjustment (2001-2004), and upgrade (2005-2010) to the current stage of individualization (2011-present). During the process, the informal institutions work to suppress, conflict with the formal institutions, yet transform into formal institutions in the end. In such a process, institutional loopholes and frictions are the norm, and tourism accommodation format evolves from extensive development to sustainable development. It suggests that the sustainable development of the tourism accommodation industry needs the synergy of formal and informal institutions.

Any study of industrial heritage redevelopment should consider the conflicts inherent in the pres... more Any study of industrial heritage redevelopment should consider the conflicts inherent in the preservation process, and especially the role of the local community. An invested community can help preserve its own heritage, and balance policy formulated to create rapid development without any community involvement. This paper employs qualitative data collected at Taigucang Wharf, a former industrial zone in Guangzhou, China, to analyse the role of the local community in the restoration of this industrial heritage site as a tourist attraction. The findings show that once the site was completed, the role of community shifted from bystanders to benefit recipients, and subsequently advocates of the heritage restoration process. Tourism plays an important role in balancing the demands of preservation and development.

Drawn upon the brand attachment theory, this study examines the role of destination brand persona... more Drawn upon the brand attachment theory, this study examines the role of destination brand
personality (DBP) and self-congruence in developing destination brand attachment (DBA) from
the perspective of tourists. In particular, the study investigates whether DBP tends to match
tourists’ ideal self or conforms more to the actual self during the DBA development process. The
conceptual model is empirically tested with a sample of Chinese independent tourists in
Yangshuo, China, a popular destination for this market segment. In addition to identifying the
four DBP dimensions relevant to Yangshuo, the most important findings of this study rest on the
mediating role of self-congruence between DBP and DBA. These findings suggest that congruence
between the actual self and the DBP dimensions of Excitement and Charming contribute to
the development of DBA, while the ideal self-congruence does not.

Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2012, 2012

Tourism Geographies, 2014

The explosive growth of tourism in China since the 1980s has generated attendant interest in tour... more The explosive growth of tourism in China since the 1980s has generated attendant interest in tourism research in the country, among researchers both in the mainland and outside. The dialogue between the two communities (domestic and international researchers) is also growing, but is as yet still limited, with insufficient contributions from Chinese mainland tourism researchers to the international academic world. China provides a rich field for examining the cultural, social and institutional context in which tourism develops. Recent studies of village-based community tourism development in China, with an emphasis on institutional perspectives, provide some insight on the dynamic and complex changes of rural communities along with tourism development. In general, these papers show that village participation in decision making is growing, although examples of disempowerment are as rife as those of growing empowerment. Contested resources are one of the most influential factors in this struggle, along with the rapid growth of tourism that the country has experienced since the 1980s. The papers in this special collection also demonstrate the distinct character of domestic tourism research in China, which engages the rich body of literature published in Chinese, but is generally less connected to broader international debates in the predominantly Anglo-American English publishing realm.

An increase in the number of tourist arrivals is regarded as an important indicator of the develo... more An increase in the number of tourist arrivals is regarded as an important indicator of the development of a tourist site. At Wulingyuan, a World Heritage site in Hunan Province in China, rapid growth in the tourist arrivals from Korea has resulted in the so called 'Korean Wave'. This chapter identifies the causes and impacts of this rapid increase in the number of inbound tourists and provides a generic model to enhance our understanding of this tourism growth. Korean arrivals have come to dominate tourist arrivals at Wulingyuan. Why? How did it occur? By using empirical data from surveys of local tourist practitioners, this chapter concludes that the initial, pull, and operating forces were generated by the market, but subsequently push and essential forces were supplied by the public sector in order to stimulate tourism growth from Korea. Inbound tourism in China needs to be initiated by market demand, but requires government support subsequently. The combination of market and government mechanisms jointly provides a model for inbound tourism marketing in China and possibly elsewhere. ) is a lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Australia. Her current research interests include general management issues, tourism, health and aged care management, national park management, regional tourism development, sustainability issues, and the modelling of regional economies.

WANG Xiaoxiao1, ZHANG Chaozhi2 (() 1 School of Tourism, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 2002... more WANG Xiaoxiao1, ZHANG Chaozhi2 (() 1 School of Tourism, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China;() 2 School of Tourism Management, Center for Tourism Planning & Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China)

Journal of Sustainable Tourism , 2017

Asian Journal of Tourism Research, 2017

Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing , 2017

Tourism Management, 2018

Journal of Sustainable Tourism , 2017

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 2019

ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, 2018

Annals of tourism research, 2019

Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change,, 2019

ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, 2019

sustainability, 2019

Drawn upon the brand attachment theory, this study examines the role of destination brand persona... more Drawn upon the brand attachment theory, this study examines the role of destination brand
personality (DBP) and self-congruence in developing destination brand attachment (DBA) from
the perspective of tourists. In particular, the study investigates whether DBP tends to match
tourists’ ideal self or conforms more to the actual self during the DBA development process. The
conceptual model is empirically tested with a sample of Chinese independent tourists in
Yangshuo, China, a popular destination for this market segment. In addition to identifying the
four DBP dimensions relevant to Yangshuo, the most important findings of this study rest on the
mediating role of self-congruence between DBP and DBA. These findings suggest that congruence
between the actual self and the DBP dimensions of Excitement and Charming contribute to
the development of DBA, while the ideal self-congruence does not.

Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2012, 2012

Tourism Geographies, 2014