TOURISM EXPANSION AND SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION TRANSFORMATION IN ECOLOGICALLY FRAGILE PLATEAU

Bo Yang; Jiawei Wu; Anna Miao

doi:10.52370/TISC26501BY

Bo Yang College of Tourism, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
Jiawei Wu College of Tourism, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
Anna Miao College of Tourism, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52370/TISC26501BY

Keywords: Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, tourism expansion, habitat quality, destination transformation, differentiated governance

Abstract

This study investigates sustainable destination transformation on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from 2013 to 2023. By analyzing tourism expansion, land-use change, and habitat quality, we explore the balance between development and protection in fragile regions. Results show that tourism activities are strongly clustered in the eastern and southern plateau, driving a 51.59% expansion of construction land. Although regional habitat quality is stable (index 0.603), localized degradation has intensified near major destination nodes. The driving mechanism has shifted from nature-dominated to a socio-ecological co-driven system. We propose a differentiated governance framework across core, transition, and marginal zones to align tourism intensity with ecological capacity. The findings highlight that ecological integrity is essential to destination quality, offering a path for sustainable transformation in high-altitude destinations.

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