Author(s)

Qianjin Liu ¹, Hongxi Yang ^1,2

Affiliation(s)

¹ Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
² Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

Corresponding Author

Qianjin Liu

ABSTRACT

Sports tourism policies act as a vital institutional guarantee for improving the sports industry system and advancing the development of China as a leading nation in both sports and tourism. Through content analysis, this study examines the evolutionary trajectory, internal logic, and future trends of national-level sports tourism policies issued between 1978 and 2025. The findings indicate that the evolution of sports tourism policies has undergone three distinct phases: the embryonic stage (1978–2007), when the integrated development of sports and tourism initially proposed; the rapid development stage (2008–2015), driven by event-led acceleration of sports tourism; and the comprehensive deepening stage (2016–2025), characterized by the continuous emergence of new models in sports tourism. The internal logic of these policies is reflected in three aspects: strategic adaptation logic, marked by a shift from "economic supporting" to "national strategic embedding"; industrial integration logic, evolving from "superficial overlap" to "full-chain synergy"; and demand response logic, transitioning from "mass popularization" to "individualized segmentation" in supply optimization. To overcome the limitations of current policies, future strategies must target on three critical dimensions: precision, institutionalization, and value diversification, thereby unlocking the industry's full social and economic potential.

KEYWORDS

Sports Tourism Policies; Evolutionary Trajectory; Internal Logic; Content Analysis

CITE THIS PAPER

Qianjin Liu, Hongxi Yang, The Evolution of China's Sports Tourism Policies: Historical Trajectory, Internal Logic, and Future Prospects. Tourism Management and Technology Economy (2025) Vol. 8: 269-278. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/tmte.2025.080133.

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