Tourism and leisure in China: A Tale of Two Cities

This paper investigates the relationship between tourism and leisure. Based on a survey of and personal communications with international tourists, hospitality workers, and residents, an integrative approach is adopted in the case study of Xiamen and Quanzhou, two coastal cities in Fujian Province, China. The paper concludes that superficial homogeneity in the social phenomena of two cities in close vicinity does not justify an actual similarity in the interaction between tourists and residents and the integration of tourism and leisure. Previous literature is reviewed, study area and background are described, managerial implications are discussed, and departures for further integrative studies are provided.