Abstract
Using cross sectional data, the spatial distribution of inbound tourism to China is compared with that of the distribution of socio-economic variables such as GDP, population and GDP per capita. Spatial inequality of tourism based both on demand- and supply-side indicators is shown to be much greater than for that of the socio-economic variables and appears to reinforce the regional inequalities generated by the latter. This is evident from the Gini coefficients. Furthermore, the disparity of the concentration of tourism in the coastal region of China compared to the inland is much greater than that on the economics side. Factors which may help to generate this inequality in tourism are identified. The scope for ecotourism to decentralize tourism in China is briefly discussed.
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