abstract: 'In China, there are significant inequalities in income distribution

  between inland and coastal regions. Tourism is regarded as one means of

  fostering regional economic development and ameliorating these

  inequalities. Many inland destinations possess natural advantages that

  could form the basis for regional competitive advantage in the presence

  of necessary other conditions, but have experienced difficulty in

  drawing both domestic and international visitors away from the popular

  coastal gateways. This paper considers the nature of competitive

  advantage and the applicability of Porter''s (1990. The competitive

  advantage of nations. London: Macmillan Press) theory in an emerging

  market economy. The development of regional tourism clusters based on

  Porter''s (1998. On competition. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press)

  model may be a way of fostering competitive advantage in regional China.

  This is especially relevant with recent policy events, including the

  emergence of the `West Development'' initiative. The potential for the

  development of regional tourism clusters is explored in this paper,

  which finds that while Porter''s model is theoretically applicable, there

  is much work to be done at a micro-business level in fostering cluster

  development. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.'
affiliation: 'Jackson, J (Corresponding Author), La Trobe Univ, Off Vice Chancellor,
  Melbourne, Vic 3086, Australia.

  La Trobe Univ, Off Vice Chancellor, Melbourne, Vic 3086, Australia.'
author: Jackson, J
author_list:
- family: Jackson
  given: J
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2005.02.007
files: []
issn: 0261-5177
journal: TOURISM MANAGEMENT
keywords: China; West Development; competitive advantage; clusters
keywords-plus: POLICIES; STRATEGY
language: English
month: AUG
number: '4'
number-of-cited-references: '38'
pages: 695-706
papis_id: 54d0c038e859bd47c19483ca55f14fb2
ref: Jackson2006developingregional
times-cited: '108'
title: 'Developing regional tourism in China: The potential for activating business
  clusters in a socialist market economy'
type: Article
unique-id: WOS:000238595500012
usage-count-last-180-days: '2'
usage-count-since-2013: '69'
volume: '27'
web-of-science-categories: 'Environmental Studies; Hospitality, Leisure, Sport \&
  Tourism;

  Management'
year: '2006'