Spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of China

Abstract The coastal regions of China are abundant in intangible cultural heritage (ICH) resources characterized by distinct maritime features. The comprehensive integration and development of these resources with tourism represent a critical strategy for the scientific protection and sustainable de...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Litao Xie, Tingzuo Feng, Lijun Jiang, Jing Tian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15407-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849329635481878528
author Litao Xie
Tingzuo Feng
Lijun Jiang
Jing Tian
author_facet Litao Xie
Tingzuo Feng
Lijun Jiang
Jing Tian
author_sort Litao Xie
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The coastal regions of China are abundant in intangible cultural heritage (ICH) resources characterized by distinct maritime features. The comprehensive integration and development of these resources with tourism represent a critical strategy for the scientific protection and sustainable development of coastal ICH. This study examines the spatial distribution of ICH across China’s coastal regions. It also establishes an evaluation system to measure tourism response levels toward coastal ICH and employs a GeoDetector model to identify influencing factors. The results indicate that: (1) Different types of ICH resources in coastal areas exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns, with notable variations in their concentrations. Generally, the spatial distribution of ICH follows a multi-centered structure, exhibiting higher densities in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Yellow River Delta. (2) Regional disparities in tourism response levels toward ICH are evident in coastal regions, demonstrating a decreasing gradient from central areas toward the north and south. (3) The tourism response levels of ICH are primarily influenced by factors such as regional GDP, resident population, the tourism environment, and the number of ICH sites, with regional GDP identified as the most influential factor. These findings enhance the understanding of the current developmental status of ICH in China’s coastal regions and highlight key distinctions from inland areas.
format Article
id doaj-art-9c3f4930f1bb4fdea2e2e027470ba9dd
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-9c3f4930f1bb4fdea2e2e027470ba9dd2025-08-20T03:47:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-15407-9Spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of ChinaLitao Xie0Tingzuo Feng1Lijun Jiang2Jing Tian3School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan UniversitySchool of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan UniversityAbstract The coastal regions of China are abundant in intangible cultural heritage (ICH) resources characterized by distinct maritime features. The comprehensive integration and development of these resources with tourism represent a critical strategy for the scientific protection and sustainable development of coastal ICH. This study examines the spatial distribution of ICH across China’s coastal regions. It also establishes an evaluation system to measure tourism response levels toward coastal ICH and employs a GeoDetector model to identify influencing factors. The results indicate that: (1) Different types of ICH resources in coastal areas exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns, with notable variations in their concentrations. Generally, the spatial distribution of ICH follows a multi-centered structure, exhibiting higher densities in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Yellow River Delta. (2) Regional disparities in tourism response levels toward ICH are evident in coastal regions, demonstrating a decreasing gradient from central areas toward the north and south. (3) The tourism response levels of ICH are primarily influenced by factors such as regional GDP, resident population, the tourism environment, and the number of ICH sites, with regional GDP identified as the most influential factor. These findings enhance the understanding of the current developmental status of ICH in China’s coastal regions and highlight key distinctions from inland areas.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15407-9Intangible cultural heritageCoastal areasSpatial distributionTourism responseInfluencing factors
spellingShingle Litao Xie
Tingzuo Feng
Lijun Jiang
Jing Tian
Spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of China
Scientific Reports
Intangible cultural heritage
Coastal areas
Spatial distribution
Tourism response
Influencing factors
title Spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of China
title_full Spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of China
title_fullStr Spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of China
title_full_unstemmed Spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of China
title_short Spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of China
title_sort spatial distribution characteristics and tourism response of intangible cultural heritage in coastal areas of china
topic Intangible cultural heritage
Coastal areas
Spatial distribution
Tourism response
Influencing factors
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15407-9
work_keys_str_mv AT litaoxie spatialdistributioncharacteristicsandtourismresponseofintangibleculturalheritageincoastalareasofchina
AT tingzuofeng spatialdistributioncharacteristicsandtourismresponseofintangibleculturalheritageincoastalareasofchina
AT lijunjiang spatialdistributioncharacteristicsandtourismresponseofintangibleculturalheritageincoastalareasofchina
AT jingtian spatialdistributioncharacteristicsandtourismresponseofintangibleculturalheritageincoastalareasofchina