Spatial analysis of synergies and trade-offs between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa

Challenges faced by African countries in achieving the goals of sustainable development are similar and trans-boundary. Previous analysis of Africa’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has largely beennon-spatial, reducing the ability to find spatial relationships between countries and SDGs to help cooperationand proffer country-specific interventions. This study adopted techniques of exploratory and inferential spatialstatistics to assess the successes of African countries from 2016 to 2020 in achieving the goals of sustainable de-velopment. Also, the study sought to understand how the spatial synergies and trade-offs between SDGs vary percountry and time. The results revealed that spatial hotspots of countries with high SDGs scores were mostly con-fined to northern African countries with significant coldspots within central and eastern Africa and few patchesin western and southern Africa for 2016. In 2020, the number of countries forming hotspots reduced, with Cen-tral African countries as significant cold spots. Five main spatial relationships: positive linear, negative linear,concave, convex and undefined complex, were found among countries and the SDGs. However, these spatialrelationships were fluid as they changed over time and with different levels of influence from 2016 to 2020.The study concludes that generic solutions and policies by development agencies, governments, developmentfinance instiutions and other impact investors will not be enough in achieving the SDGs because of the spatialheterogeneity of the continent. Tailored and country-specific policies based on results of spatial statistics matter.

The Failure of Fast Ferry Catamaran Operations in New Zealand and Hawaii

Fast ferry catamarans have been in use for several decades. They possess the advantage of overcoming one of the major deficiencies of water transportation: low speed. Although their operation has spread throughout different parts of the world, an overall analysis of the implementation and failures of this technology remains underdeveloped in the transport literature. This paper presents and compares two unsuccessful experiences of the use of fast ferry catamarans in New Zealand and Hawaii. Although both attempts possess major differences in terms of their contexts, particularly regarding competition, regulatory and environmental issues, some of the common lessons learned from both experiences can significantly contribute to a better understanding of this water transport technology and the challenges involved in its operation.

Spatial and Temporal Variation of Real Integrated Land Productivity of Yunnan Province

Taking Yunnan Province as an example,this paper calculated the real integrated land productivity(RILP)of 16 prefectures(cities)in Yunnan Province for the past 11 years(2009-2019),and analyzed its spatial distribution pattern.The research results show that the RILP of the whole Yunnan Province and all prefectures(cities)showed a slow upward trend.Among them,the province's RILP showed the highest increase in 2019 compared with the previous year;the RILP of all prefectures(cities)in Yunnan Province has significant spatial autocorrelation,showing obvious positive spatial agglomeration characteristics.Based on this,this paper proposes to improve the overall RILP in various regions according to local conditions and formulate countermeasures for coordinated development of various prefectures(cities).

全球气候变化与国家公园应对的美国启示

全球气候变化及其不利影响是当前人类共同关心的话题，其对国家公园的影响也受到越来越多国家公园管理人员和学者的关注。2009年，落基山气候组织（TheRocky Mountain Climate Organization，RMCO）及自然资源保护委员会（Natural Resources Defense Council，NRDC）共同发布了一份《困境中的国家公园》报告（National Parksin Peril：The Threats of Climate Disruption），对全球气候变化对美国国家公园的冲击进行了研究。

本土化研究的争议与边界--兼论对中国本土化旅游研究的几点思考

近年来,中国旅游研究的国际化已取得了丰硕成果,但也引发国内外旅游学界对国际化的目的和后果的反思。尤其是,学界普遍对中国部分旅游研究存在的"食洋不化"、照搬西方理论、概念和方法表示担忧,并开始呼吁在研究中找回"中国元素"。通过梳理相关领域(主要是社会学、心理学、管理学、营销学)在讨论本土化时所存在的争议(即概念之争、动机之争、目的之争、思路/路径之争、情境化之争)以及对本土化边界的讨论,该文提出:有关中国本土化旅游研究的讨论和实践需要明确范围、划定边界。在有关本土化的讨论与实践的大环境下,文章结合旅游研究的跨学科、多学科属性,从议题与视角本土化、理论本土化、方法科学化/规范化等3个角度提出了关于中国本土化旅游研究的几点思考。

全球疫情下旅游研究实践相关性的再思考

和很多领域相似,旅游研究曾多次出现对严谨性(rigor)与相关性(relevance)的辩论。早期的旅游教育主要脱胎于职业教育,重实操而轻理论。在过去一段时期,伴随着对旅游的科学性和学术(科)地位的追求,旅游作为一个研究领域(area of study)在严谨性方面取得较大的发展,整个领域也将更多的关注放在旅游研究的科学性和理论贡献上。2020年伊始,新冠疫情席卷全球,各行各业都受到了不同程度的波及,世界经济遭受严重打击。对于本应顺着节假日一飞冲天的餐饮、旅游、电影行业来说,新冠疫情更是如同直入心脏的毒药,行业的脆弱性在天灾面前显现得淋漓尽致。新冠疫情的凄风苦雨下,对于旅游研究的批评声渐起:我们所从事的研究真的重要吗?我们对现实世界的贡献、影响何在?

美国旅游管理学科建设及其对中国的启示

一、美国旅游管理学科的现状美国的旅游管理教育起步较早,在近百年的发展历程中积累了宝贵的经验可供中国借鉴。现阶段,美国"大旅游管理"^②学科主要包括旅游与目的地管理(tourism and destination management)、酒店接待业管理(hospitality management)、节事管理(event management)、休闲与游憩管理(leisure and recreation management)和国家公园管理(park management)等领域,形成了从专科(Higher Diploma/Associate)、本科(Bachelor)到硕士(Master)和博士(PhD)的完整的教育与人才培养体系。

An Evolutionary Economic Geography Perspective on Types of Operation Development in West Lake, China

The types of operation play a key role in facilitating tourism consumption and economic development in a tourism destination. By adopting evolutionary economic geography theory, the paper analyzes the types of operation in West Lake Scenic Area from 1978 to 2013. First, an evolution process consisting of four stages is underpinned, and they are: the new establishment stage, the preliminary development stage, the speedup development stage, and the stabilized maturity stage. Specifically, the distinct characteristics associated with operation types are compared and evaluated at different stages throughout the process. The evolution trees are introduced to scrutinize types of operation development. The results of evolution trees demonstrate the substantial increase in both numbers and types. Second, by applying GIS spatial analysis, the paper also analyzes the spatial evolution characteristics on the types of operation, and the results unveil the co-existence of centripetal and centrifugal forces: the processes of spatial agglomeration and spatial dispersion. More specifically, we recognize the spatial process includes the emergence of node and concentration(1978–1995), the sparse distribution and intensity reduction(1996–2002), the patchy distribution and spatial agglomeration intensification(2003–2008), the dispersed distribution and core area agglomeration(2009–2013). Lastly, path dependence on resource endowment, government and market innovation, knowledge learning and spillover can reasonably explain the types of operation evolution. In conclusion, the evolutionary economic geography theories provide new theoretical and empirical perspectives for tourism policy analysis. At the same time, our comprehensive evidences impart more comprehensive insights and offer useful managerial and policy implications.

The Impetus for RCEP in Facilitating the High-quality Development of the Tourism Service Trade in Yunnan Province,China

The present world pattern has undergone major changes,the trend of world multi-polarization is constantly emerging,and peace and development remain the main themes of today’s society.The formal signing and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP)is important for meeting the needs of peace and development of many countries and regions.China is in a new era of reform and opening-up,and the RCEP content is in line with China’s concept of pursuing a path of rejuvenation.Based on the locations of important borders,Yunnan Province has become one of the key places for China’s opening-up and development regarding Southeast Asia and South Asia,and the high-quality development of its tourism service trade is of great significance.This study first used the grounded theory analysis method to organize,analyze and process the records of international conferences and government press conferences held in Yunnan Province,as well as important related issues since the signing of RCEP.Then,the social network analysis method was used to analyze the social recognition degree of RCEP in promoting the high-quality development of the tourism service trade in Yunnan Province from the perspectives of different levels and group consensus.The results show that cooperation is the key macro driving force for RCEP in promoting the high-quality development of the tourism service trade in Yunnan Province.Regarding the opportunities and environment of the transportation dividend,policy dividend and investment dividend,port construction,border township construction and exhibition-related construction are important cooperation contents,so they are conducive to the recovery of the tourism industry in a broader development space.Competition can improve the driving force of RCEP in promoting the high-quality development of the tourism service trade in Yunnan Province at the micro level,and has more practical significance.For example,RCEP can better rely on its own geographical advantages and international market competitiveness,optimize the use of resources inside and outside ports,and use high-tech products to form a more green,ecological,organic and sustainable development.In different levels of social identity,RCEP’s power of cooperation is more strongly recognized,while the power of competition is less recognized.However,from the perspective of grouping the various groups,RCEP’s powers of cooperation and competition are jointly recognized by the other groups,indicating that cooperation and competition are necessary for the realization of RCEP’s power.The results of this study provide a certain reference for understanding the dynamics of RCEP in more detail from more angles and for the local implementation of RCEP rules and measures.