Methodological approaches to the comparative assessment of the recreational and geographical location for the international tourism development (the case of China)

The article presents the results of the assessing the recreational and geographical location of the regions of China. Recreational and geographical location is considered as part of tourism and recreational potential and an important condition for the international tourism development. The analysis of the spatial differentiation of tourist flows and their structure revealed the relationship among the recreational- geographical location and the peculiarities of the development of international tourism in the regions of China. To assess the recreational-geographical location, indicators were selected to meet the principles of openness and comprehensiveness. Based on the typological approach, the regions of mainland China are divided into 5 groups. The first two groups include regions with the most favorable recreational-geographical location for the international tourism development. The greatest advantages were identified for Guangdong, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang. Their advantages include location within the most economically developed part of the country, coastal, border and neighboring location, high transport accessibility, proximity to outbound tourism markets (Japan, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong). The next two groups of regions are characterized by a recreational and geographical situation combining favorable and unfavorable aspects. The regions of the 5th group (Gansu, Qinghai, Tibet, Ningxia-Hui Autonomous Region) have the least favorable recreational and geographical position. They are located within the most remote and least economically developed part of China, away from the seacoasts and outbound tourism markets; they are characterized by low transport availability. This weakens the tourist and recreational potential of the regions for the international tourism development. The patterns identified in the process of assessing the recreational and geographical location can be used to determine priorities in the tourism development and the formation of regional tourism policy.