Assessing tourism ecological security is more important than ever, especially for cities like Lanzhou, China, where historical richness meets pressing environmental challenges. Recent research unveils significant findings concerning Lanzhou's tourism sector, highlighting its ecological security status and the need for strategic policy reforms.
Over the past decade, Lanzhou has experienced rapid tourism growth, driven by increased infrastructure and industry development. This surge has resulted, unfortunately, not only in improved economic metrics but also heightened pressure on local ecosystems, particularly on the city’s fragile semi-arid environment. The authors of the article have modeled the situation, utilizing integrated approaches such as the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, Responses) framework to navigate the complex interplay of tourism activities with ecological health.
From 2009 to 2021, the research recorded fluctuations and improvements within Lanzhou’s tourism ecological security. Notably, it peaked in 2019, with research indicating rising scores of ecological stability and sustainability efforts. Nevertheless, this positive trend encountered significant setbacks during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, illustrating the vulnerability of the tourism sector to global disruptions. The exclusive focus of the study on this semi-arid region underlines the distinct challenges faced when balancing burgeoning tourism interests with environmental stewardship.
The key objectives of this investigation were to determine the current ecological security status affecting tourism and to offer actionable recommendations for local governments. The research employs various quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including mean square deviation for weight calculations and ranking through the TOPSIS method, to rank the ecological safety level from different subsystems. Results demonstrate the interconnectedness of ecological indicators, where changes to one element impact the overall ecosystem.
Throughout the evaluation, the authors identified areas of improvement in Lanzhou's tourism sector—particularly the urgency of enhancing ecological monitoring systems, promoting sustainable tourism practices, and increasing community engagement. Local involvement is pivotal; stakeholders are encouraged to actively contribute to decision-making processes to realize more sustainable outcomes.
The findings offer valuable insights for similar regions grappling with ecological security and tourism issues. The research published is expected to serve as a model for other cities by emphasizing holistic management strategies for tourism systems. Sustainable tourism isn’t merely beneficial—it is necessary.
Future research directions were highlighted, calling for concrete evaluations of ecological security models as well as broadening the socio-economic impacts of sustainable tourism. The authors assert the necessity for greater introspection on how local ecosystems are influenced by tourism activities and environmental practices, urging local policymakers to lay out refined, data-driven strategies for sustainable tourism.
Conclusively, this comprehensive study serves not only as a wakeup call to Lanzhou’s tourism management but also as guidance for sustainable practices around the globe. With thoughtful strategies—backed by scientific evaluation—a more resilient ecological future for tourism sectors can emerge from cities like Lanzhou.