"Blessing in disguise": The impact of the Wenchuan earthquake on inbound tourist arrivals in Sichuan, China. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Li; Yin, Xin; Yang, Yang; Luo, Mingzhi; Huang, Songshan (Sam)
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospitality and tourism management. Volume 42(2019)
• Page Start: 58
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Disaster -- Destination recovery -- Inbound tourism -- Tourist arrivals -- Wenchuan earthquake; Hospitality industry -- Management -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Management -- Periodicals; Hospitality industry -- Australia -- Management -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Australia -- Management -- Periodicals; Hospitality industry -- Management; Tourism -- Management; Australia; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 338.4791068
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhtm.2019.11.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1447-6770

Abstract

Abstract: By analysing the long-term effect of the Wenchuan earthquake on inbound tourist arrivals in Sichuan, this study probes the long-term recovery of inbound tourist arrivals in disaster areas. Empirical evidence reveals the existence of a "Blessing in Disguise" effect, as the growth of overall inbound tourist arrivals to Sichuan after the earthquake has significantly increased. Moreover, we show that this "blessing in disguise" effect is a specific phenomenon, contrasting with China's overall inbound tourism during the same period. This study contributes to the overall knowledge of post-disaster tourism recovery. Managerial implications for post-disaster tourism destinations are discussed.