4.1. SWOT Factor Analysis
Based on the finalized leading indicators, a SWOT analysis model was constructed, as shown in
Figure 1, and its indicators were qualitatively analyzed.
4.1.1. Strength
Rich biological resources. Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest national forest park is located at the Jishan Mountains' anticline. The mountain is narrow and long, shaped like a soaring dragon. The highest peak- Bodaoling, is 1,025 meters above sea level, and the lowest point- Luojiaheba, is 227 meters above sea level. The geological structure belongs to the Yongchuan broom-shaped fold bundle of the East Sichuan fold belt, the third subsidence zone of the Neocathaysian system. Cold sandy yellow soil is widely spread on the mountain, and the surface is primarily light gray or gray limestone. The top of the mountain is gentle, and the soil is deep, suitable for the growth of tea trees and bamboo. The vegetation type of Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest national forest park is subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest. The forest coverage rate in the scenic area is 97%.
Bamboo and tea trees are mainly distributed. The top of the mountain is sparse shrubs and grass meadows. There are more than 30 species of tea trees in the scenic area, which are rich in famous teas such as "Yongchuan Xiuya," "Yudu Hao Tea," and "Yuzhou Maofeng." There are more than ten precious bamboo species, such as moso bamboo, Ci bamboo, bitter bamboo, and white oleander. Varieties include human-faced bamboo, animal bamboo, flowered bamboo, etc. Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest national forest park have many wildlife resources. There are 39 species of birds in 23 families, 16 species of mammals in 9 families, 258 species of insects, and more than 30 species of butterflies. The protected animals include macaques, black bears, yellow-throated martens, big civets, small civets, otters, golden cats, etc.
Excellent climate and environment. Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest national forest park is located in a humid subtropical climate zone with a mild climate, four distinct seasons, abundant rainfall throughout the year, a long frost-free period, little sunshine, and high humidity. The average annual temperature is 14 degrees Celsius, the average annual snow cover is one week, the average annual rainfall is 1042.2 mm, the average sunshine is 1298.5 hours, and the average annual frost-free period is 317 days. The atmospheric environment in the park reaches China's national standard, with an oxygen ion content of 30,000 to 50,000 per cubic centimeter. The average annual air quality rate reaches 97.6%, making it an ideal natural oxygen bar.
Diverse tourism resources. The natural landscape in the national forest park is superior and has the "natural oxygen bar" reputation. The National Forest Park has long focused on developing forest tourism, including Bodaoling, the highest peak in western Chongqing, historical monuments Zhu De Tea House and Tianzi Palace ruins, and the filming location for the House of Flying Daggers movie. There are six A-level scenic spots in Yongchuan District, including three A-level scenic spots and two A-level scenic spots, initially forming a regional cluster of high-quality A-level scenic spots.
Table 3.
The index system of sustainable development factors.
Table 3.
The index system of sustainable development factors.
Scenic Spot Name |
Quality Level |
Scenic Spot Type |
Opening Time |
Chongqing LocalJoy Resort Theme Park |
AAAA |
Animal/theme amusement park |
Every day 9:00-17:30 |
Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest |
AAAA |
Forest/Grassland |
Every day 9:00-17:30 |
Chongqing Stalagmite Mountain Scenic Area Chongqing Yongchuan Taohuayuan Tourist Resort Chongqing Yongchuan Songgai Ancient Town Chongqing Yongchuan Museum |
AAAA
AAA
AAA
AAA |
Natural scenery
Leisure vacation
Characteristic neighborhood Cultural Museum |
Every day 9:00-17:30
Every day 9:00-17:30
Every day 9:00-17:30
9:00-17:30 (Closed every Monday) |
Unique traffic location. Chengdu and Chongqing are highly complementary economically. Chengdu City has apparent advantages in science and technology, finance, commerce, culture, and education, and it plays an essential role in radiating and driving the small and medium-sized cities in the Chengdu Plain area. Chongqing city has a strong manufacturing foundation and a high industrial level. It is also a transportation hub and trade port in the southwest. It can connect with the Wuhan urban agglomeration to the east, and going south through the southwest sea passage, it connected to the Nan Ning, Gui Yang, and Kun Ming economic zones. Therefore, Chongqing and Chengdu have become hubs connecting southwestern China to central and southern China. In terms of expressways, three expressways will be completed and opened to traffic in 2024. Construction of the Yongchuan-Zigong and Yongchuan-Dazu Expressways (Chongqing Section) has started. The Construction of the Chongqing Central City to Yongchuan Express Logistics Channel and the Yongchuan City to Gangqiao Express Logistics Channel has started.
Regarding railways, the Yongchuan section of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway will open to traffic in 2025. The urban railway line from the central city to Yongchuan is being planned. Six projects, including the Chongqing-Zigong (Leshan) intercity railway, the Chongqing-Bijie intercity railway, the second railway ring line, the Chengdu-Chongqing railway capacity expansion Yongchuan section, the Chongqing-Yibin railway, and the Chongqing-Luyi intercity railway, have been included in the 2035 mid- to long-term plan. Regarding air and shipping channels, the second airport planned to be built in Chongqing is only more than 10 kilometers from the central city of Yongchuan. Port of Songgai in Yongchuan District is located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River at the southernmost tip of Yongchuan District and has now opened direct international shipping.
4.1.2. Weakness
Shortage of professional talents. Forest wellness is a diversified industry integrating rehabilitation, ecology, medicine, and healthcare. It requires comprehensive talents integrating management and technology, such as forest wellness practitioners, forest wellness technicians, and forest commentators. However, due to the limited economy in the tourism industry, it isn't easy to introduce talents from outside. At the same time, personnel in the region lack standard technical training, and there is a shortage of professional and technical personnel.
Infrastructure is backward. Compared with similar tourist attractions in other places, its infrastructure construction is still lagging, and it is challenging to meet the expanding market demand. It was mainly highlighted in wellness facilities, transportation infrastructure, and accommodation facilities. Currently, Yongchuan district can still provide conventional medical and wellness facilities, but there are problems such as limited quantity and insufficient technology. A three-dimensional transportation network with highways, railways, aviation, and water transportation as the core within the territory has initially taken shape. However, the density and mileage of highways make it challenging to meet the needs of tourists for "fast travel and slow travel." Accommodation facilities are limited and insufficient, making it hard to find accommodation during holidays.
The operating mechanism is backward. According to an analysis of relevant literature on the current development status of forest wellness tourism, although Yongchuan publicity has made use of technologies such as the internet and new media, the promotion form lacks multi-channel and multi-perspective publicity methods compared with Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, and other regions. Use internet technology to attract tourists, mainly from surrounding areas.
Insufficient publicity. Forest wellness tourism relies on forests to effectively integrate the tourism and healthcare industries. It is necessary to find their common points. Combined with the actual needs of tourists, create unique tourism health projects. However, judging from the current development status of the Yongchuan forest wellness tourism industry, the connection between the tourism industry and the wellness industry is not close enough. The two are relatively independent, have limited integration, and lack outstanding industrial characteristics.
4.1.3. Opportunity
Strong policy support. The State Forestry and Grassland Administration issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Development of the Forest Recreation Industry." The opinions pointed out that the development of the forest wellness industry must adhere to the five basic principles of ecological optimization, adapting measures to local conditions, scientific development, innovation leadership, and market leadership. They clarified the main tasks of vigorously developing the forest wellness industry. At the local level, the Yongchuan district government issued the Rural Tourism Development Plan (2020-2030), which focused on creating forest wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest national forest park.
The market prospect is broad. The population's aging and severe environmental pollution problems have intensified people's medical and healthcare demands. People's health awareness continues to improve, and the wellness tourism industry is booming. As a tourist city in Chongqing, Yongchuan district's tourist arrivals and income have increased in the past ten years. According to the recent years "Yongchuan District Statistical Yearbook," tourist reception and income have steadily grown.
Tourism Industry transformation and upgrading. The traditional sightseeing model of simply enjoying the scenery cannot meet the needs of tourists at this stage. Tourists prefer experiential, leisure, and wellness tourism. Wellness tourism is quality tourism that integrates sports, leisure, healthcare, and elderly care. It is the key to the transformation and development of tourism under the new standard development. Yong Chuan district can use its environmental, selenium-rich environment, and traditional Chinese medicine advantages to create more distinctive wellness tourism products and promote the transformation and upgrading of the regional wellness tourism industry.
Changes in consumption concepts. Price is one of the factors consumers consider when choosing travel products. However, when tourists make travel consumption decisions, their inner preferences and needs are far more important than the impact of price.
4.1.4. Threaten
Peripheral competitive pressure. The unique geographical structure gives Chongqing rich forest wellness resources. There are 27 national forest parks in Chongqing, and they have enormous potential to develop the forest wellness industry. Secondly, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other places have significantly better human and natural resources than Chongqing. Guizhou has completed preparing the forest wellness plan and has established over 100 forest wellness bases. Many places already have specific forest brand effects. Sichuan Province promulgated the "Sichuan Forest Wellness and Nutrition Foundation" and "Land Construction Standards" and built the first forest wellness e-commerce platform. In addition, Chengdu City in Sichuan Province is a famous tourist city in China, and its infrastructure, talent training, and market demand far exceed that of Chongqing City.
Investment and financing difficulties. Disadvantages such as weak infrastructure, lack of professional talents, and backward publicity mechanisms have resulted in its low visibility, weak appeal, and limited customer base. At the same time, the development of forest wellness tourism projects is an industry with a long cycle, weak results, and slow returns. Coupled with numerous uncertain factors, investment and financing are more complex than in other regions with muscular economic strength.
Diverse tourism needs. The diverse demand for wellness tourism has brought market opportunities to the forest wellness tourism industry. However, as the demand for wellness is getting higher and higher, traditional and straightforward sightseeing-style tourism can no longer meet the needs of tourists. It has natural physiological and medical functions. Forest wellness tourism caters more to the needs of the public, allowing people to experience the joy of life and achieve the purpose of education and self-cultivation. It is necessary to segment the tourism market according to wellness needs, improve existing wellness tourism projects, and meet the needs of different consumer groups.
Based on the SWOT analysis of the sustainable development of forest wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest, it is clear that the current stage of developing forest wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest has its internal advantages and disadvantages, as well as opportunities and threats from the outside. It is a complex situation in which advantages and disadvantages coexist, and opportunities and threats coexist.
4.2. Hierarchical Model Analysis
4.2.1. Construction of Evaluation Index System
There is an evaluation system for sustainable development based on the internal and external factors influencing the sustainable development of Chongqing tea mountain and bamboo forest wellness tourism. It combines the SWOT analysis factors in pairs to determine the corresponding sustainable development strategy.
Construct a judgment matrix to determine system weights. According to
Figure 2, the importance of the criterion layer and each indicator layer is judged respectively. Questionnaires were sent to experts and scholars in ecology, tourism, forestry, agriculture, and other related fields through email and on-site consultation.
Table 4.
Judgment matrix and consistency check at each project level
Table 4.
Judgment matrix and consistency check at each project level
Twenty-eight questionnaires were distributed, and 23 were recovered, with an effective rate of 82%. The questionnaire adopts the "pairwise comparison" method, constructs a judgment matrix according to formula (2), and calculates the corresponding weight of each indicator. Refer to formulas (6) and (8) to calculate the maximum eigenvalue and consistency ratio and check whether the indicators at each level pass the consistency test based on whether the CR value is less than 0.1.
Determine portfolio weights and weighted scores. The weight within the group represents the importance of each indicator in the indicator layer to which it belongs, so it is of great significance to calculate the relative importance of each indicator to the overall goal. The adequate response degree of the forest wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest national forest park to each indicator is scored, and the value is between ±5 and ±1. The sensitivity decreases with the score and is divided into extremely sensitive, relatively sensitive, sensitive, and mild. There are five levels of sensitivity and insensitivity, with positive values assigned to strengths and opportunities and negative values assigned to disadvantages and threats. Finally, the weighted score of each indicator is determined by multiplying the weight of each indicator combination and the corresponding score. The greater the absolute value, the greater the value. The greater the intensity, as shown in
Table 5.
According to the analysis of the weight results of the SWOT-AHP model, it is concluded that the strength > Opportunity> weakness > threaten the sustainable development of wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest National Forest Park. The internal strengths outweigh its weaknesses, especially the superior climate environment and rich biological resources within the territory, which provide innate conditions for the development of forest wellness tourism. The weakness is mainly reflected in the infrastructure and professional talents. The necessary supporting facilities such as medical care, leisure and entertainment, sports fitness, catering, and accommodation are incomplete, the loss of professional talents is profound, and the training intensity is insufficient. It is necessary to continuously strengthen the Construction of supporting facilities while focusing on talent training and building a professional team. From an external perspective, the expanding demand in the wellness market is a powerful driving force for the sustainable development of forest wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest National Forest Park. Policies are its basic guarantee. Relevant policies should be further implemented and guided by preferential policies, top-level design combined with market expansion opportunities, reasonable planning, and implementation. Difficulties in investment and financing are the biggest threat to the development of forest wellness tourism in national forest parks. Policies should be relaxed, financing channels should be expanded, and characteristic industries should be built based on advantages to enhance competitiveness, cater to diverse needs, and achieve sustainable development.
4.2.2. Development Strategy Analysis by QSPM
Regarding strengths and weaknesses analyzed by SWOT, identified the internal factor estimate matrix (IFEM), and opportunities and threats analyzed by SWOT, identified the external factor estimate matrix (EFEM). Based on the weight results of the hierarchical model, the total strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are obtained as follows: total strength is S = 1.026425, total strength is W = -1.001425, total opportunity strength is O = 1.02765, total threat intensity is T=-0.81255. A four-quadrant coordinate system is constructed with strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as semi-axis variables. The total strength, weakness, Opportunity, and threat are positioned in the four-quadrant coordinate system and connected in sequence to form a strategic evaluation matrix, as shown in
Figure 3. The center of gravity coordinates of the strategic evaluation matrix diagram P (x, y) = P (0.01, 0.0538) are obtained from formula (13). The strategic type azimuth angle θ= 15° is determined from the coordinates of point P.
Based on the evaluation above matrix of internal and external factors, this study constructed a qualitative analysis SWOT matrix of Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest National Forest Park wellness tourism competitiveness strategy. It formed four competitive strategies: SO, WO, ST, and WT. SO strategy is an aggressive combination of strengths (S) and opportunities (O), and WO strategy is a reversal combination of weaknesses (W) and opportunities (O). ST strategy is a combination of strengths (S) and threats (T) and resistance combination, and WT strategy is a defensive combination formed by disadvantages (W) and threats (T). The four competitive strategies construct four strategic plans, respectively.
Based on determining the position of the center of gravity coordinate P of the strategic matrix, analyzing the strategic intensity coefficient helps determine its development strategy. First of all, strategic intensity can be divided into positive and negative strategic intensity. The influencing factors of positive strategic intensity are internal strength and external Opportunity, while negative strategic intensity is affected by internal weakness and external threats. The following calculations were made based on the weighted scores of each factor for the sustainable development of forest wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest National Forest Park. The positive strategic intensity U=1.0548, the negative strategic intensity V=0.8137, and finally, the strategic intensity coefficient ρ=0.5645 is obtained through formula (17). The value range of ρ is between 0 and 1. The larger the value of ρ, the greater the implementation intensity of the strategy type.
According to the coordinates of the center of gravity and the range of the azimuth angle of θ, it is determined that forest wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest national forest park is a vital industry and should adopt a competitive, sustainable development strategy. Further, based on the strategic intensity coefficient ρ= 0.5645, it is concluded that the sustainable development of forest wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest national forest park should actively adopt a competitive development strategy to enhance industrial advantages, achieve sustainable development of tourism, and drive regional connections industrial development.
As shown in
Figure 3, the center of gravity of the SWOT strategic quadrilateral for the sustainable development of Chongqing wellness tourism falls in the first quadrant of the coordinate axis, that is, the area composed of advantages (S) and opportunities (O), which shows that the development of Chongqing forest wellness tourism has relatively great potential. With good internal and external advantages, the SO strategy, composed of advantages (S) and opportunities (O), is currently the best development strategy. The SO strategy aims to seize opportunities and leverage advantages and includes four alternative plans: ① Demand leadership to expand the market for new technologies and products. ② Policy first to ensure the unique design and accelerated implementation. ③ Join forces to deepen high-level industrial research cooperation. ④ Service escort, encourage, and standardize intermediary services. The priority of these four solutions needs to be determined using the QSPM matrix.
Using the four SO strategy alternatives as horizontal indicators and the four elements of the SWOT model as vertical indicators, this study constructed a QSPM matrix for the sustainable development competitive strategy of wellness tourism in Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest National Forest Park (as shown in
Table 6). Among them, SO1-SO3 refers to the four alternatives of the SO strategy. S1-S4 corresponds to the four characteristic indicators of strengths (S), W1-W4 corresponds to the four characteristic indicators of disadvantages (W), O1-O4 corresponds to the four characteristic indicators of opportunities (O), and T1-T3 corresponds to 3 characteristic indicators of threat (T). ES represents the evaluation score of each characteristic indicator obtained through the expert consultation method, assuming that under the simulated implementation of the corresponding alternative (one of SO1 - SO3), the simulation implementation effect is estimated and evaluated according to the SWOT model. TES is the weighted score of each feature index score ES and its weight coefficient.
Table 6.
Swot matrix analysis
Table 6.
Swot matrix analysis
According to the analysis results in
Table 7, the total scores of SO1, SO2, and SO3 alternatives are 2.80385, 2.86073, and 2.81294, respectively. Therefore, the priority order of the three alternative strategic plans is SO2 > SO1 > SO3, indicating that the implementation plan for the sustainable development competition strategy of Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest National Forest Park wellness tourism can prioritize demand leadership, policy driving, and service mechanism protection in order. In addition, the gap between demand-led (SO2) and policy guidance (SO1) is small, and both are given priority consideration based on priority.