Destination image of China’s National parks from a stakeholder perspective

Abstract China’s national parks are notably complex in global destination image building due to the “ecological protection first” principle, community embeddedness, and multi-stakeholder participation. Using Wuyishan National Park as a case, this study integrates text mining and grounded theory to e...

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Main Authors: Qiu Jingpei, Xie ZiXuan, Zhang Conglin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09920-0
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author Qiu Jingpei
Xie ZiXuan
Zhang Conglin
author_facet Qiu Jingpei
Xie ZiXuan
Zhang Conglin
author_sort Qiu Jingpei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract China’s national parks are notably complex in global destination image building due to the “ecological protection first” principle, community embeddedness, and multi-stakeholder participation. Using Wuyishan National Park as a case, this study integrates text mining and grounded theory to examine: (1) destination image stakeholders, (2) interest-driven representation mechanisms, (3) systemic perception disparities, and (4) coordinated optimization pathways. The study reveals that tourists have a profound natural landscape experience but superficial cultural perception, and are sensitive to costs and management issues; residents benefit from tourism but are troubled by regional imbalances and lifestyle restrictions; enterprises seek economic benefits yet face policy constraints; the government emphasizes ecological protection and systematic governance; and non-profit organizations focus on ecological and cultural protection but are resource-constrained. This study develops a comprehensive evaluation method that integrates the perspectives of all stakeholders. Theoretically, it enriches the theoretical system of national park destination images and offers new research angles and empirical supplements to the literature. Practically, it provides collaborative image management paths for Wuyishan and experience for global national parks to balance protection and utilization in destination image building and enhancement.
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spelling doaj-art-532ccfb33b004efb8776e8a083d679f52025-08-20T04:01:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-09920-0Destination image of China’s National parks from a stakeholder perspectiveQiu Jingpei0Xie ZiXuan1Zhang Conglin2School of Management and Economics, Jingdezhen Ceramic UniversityInstitutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract China’s national parks are notably complex in global destination image building due to the “ecological protection first” principle, community embeddedness, and multi-stakeholder participation. Using Wuyishan National Park as a case, this study integrates text mining and grounded theory to examine: (1) destination image stakeholders, (2) interest-driven representation mechanisms, (3) systemic perception disparities, and (4) coordinated optimization pathways. The study reveals that tourists have a profound natural landscape experience but superficial cultural perception, and are sensitive to costs and management issues; residents benefit from tourism but are troubled by regional imbalances and lifestyle restrictions; enterprises seek economic benefits yet face policy constraints; the government emphasizes ecological protection and systematic governance; and non-profit organizations focus on ecological and cultural protection but are resource-constrained. This study develops a comprehensive evaluation method that integrates the perspectives of all stakeholders. Theoretically, it enriches the theoretical system of national park destination images and offers new research angles and empirical supplements to the literature. Practically, it provides collaborative image management paths for Wuyishan and experience for global national parks to balance protection and utilization in destination image building and enhancement.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09920-0National parksDestination imageStakeholdersTourismText analysisGrounded theory
spellingShingle Qiu Jingpei
Xie ZiXuan
Zhang Conglin
Destination image of China’s National parks from a stakeholder perspective
Scientific Reports
National parks
Destination image
Stakeholders
Tourism
Text analysis
Grounded theory
title Destination image of China’s National parks from a stakeholder perspective
title_full Destination image of China’s National parks from a stakeholder perspective
title_fullStr Destination image of China’s National parks from a stakeholder perspective
title_full_unstemmed Destination image of China’s National parks from a stakeholder perspective
title_short Destination image of China’s National parks from a stakeholder perspective
title_sort destination image of china s national parks from a stakeholder perspective
topic National parks
Destination image
Stakeholders
Tourism
Text analysis
Grounded theory
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09920-0
work_keys_str_mv AT qiujingpei destinationimageofchinasnationalparksfromastakeholderperspective
AT xiezixuan destinationimageofchinasnationalparksfromastakeholderperspective
AT zhangconglin destinationimageofchinasnationalparksfromastakeholderperspective