Using Fuzzy AHP-PROMETHEE for Market Risk Assessment of New-Build River Cruises on the Yangtze River

Abstract

Cruise tourism on the Yangtze River Basin has developed rapidly in recent years. However, it is still facing such challenges as homogenization of itinerary and shore attraction arrangement, as well as aging cruise ships and simplification of service facilities, while it is also difficult to satisfy hierarchical and personalized tourist needs. To change such circumstances, new-build river cruise ships are inevitable. Complexity of market supply and demand environment, together with variability of tourist preferences, have increased market uncertainties of new-build cruise products. This study aims to assess market risks of new-build river cruise ships first by identifying risk factors, from the perspective of supply and demand under the actual conditions of the Yangtze River cruise market, then by evaluating potential impacts, caused by risk factors based on multi-criteria decision-making considerations. Fuzzy AHP-PROMETHEE was employed to prioritize the risk factors. The results reveal that among the most significant market risk factors are the following, in sequence: backwardness of support facilities; sudden security crisis; homogenization of cruise products; simplification of tourism route design; and inadequate management of the tourism market. Such findings will provide beneficial insights for strategic and sustainable development of river cruises on the Yangtze River.

Influence of Rural Development of River Tourism Resources on Physical and Mental Health and Consumption Willingness in the Context of COVID-19

“…In response to the results of the questionnaire analysis, the semi-structured interview method was used to collect the opinions of 10 respondents with relevant industry and academic backgrounds, as shown in Table 4. Finally, after all the information was integrated, the information was cross-compared with the processes of classification, induction, and sorting, and the multi-check analysis method was used to discuss [51][52][53].…”

“…However, most of the topics discussed are tourism development and impacts [19,[22][23][24][25], freshwater intake sources and strategies [41], water quality and monitoring [42], carbon emissions [43], hydrology [44], water pollution [45], and marine and freshwater ecosystems [46]. In addition, the current research topics focusing on the Yangtze River only focus on air pollution [47], water pollution [48], energy utilization rate [49], urban land development and utilization rate [50], cruise tourism development [51], and residents' environmental literacy and decision-making participation [52]. Most of them are simply discussed from a single perspective, such as that of residents and tourists [51][52][53], but there is no hybrid research method, and most are based on the perspective of consumer willingness to buy property, revisit, or the two perspectives combined to discuss together.…”

“…In addition, the current research topics focusing on the Yangtze River only focus on air pollution [47], water pollution [48], energy utilization rate [49], urban land development and utilization rate [50], cruise tourism development [51], and residents' environmental literacy and decision-making participation [52]. Most of them are simply discussed from a single perspective, such as that of residents and tourists [51][52][53], but there is no hybrid research method, and most are based on the perspective of consumer willingness to buy property, revisit, or the two perspectives combined to discuss together. There are still gaps in the research topics related to consumer behaviors such as dams, villages, natural ecology and environment, and human habitation and tourism.…”

Deep Analysis of the Homogenization Phenomenon of the Ancient Water Towns in Jiangnan: A Dual Perspective on Landscape Patterns and Tourism Destination Images

“…Lots of researchers have suggested that diversification is one of the key influencers leading to sustainable tourism development [3,4]. Homogenization not only diminishes the competitive edge of individual tourist destinations [5] but also poses a potential threat to the integrity of ecological landscapes [6]. Therefore, revealing the homogenization phenomenon in tourist destinations is a significant topic.…”