Understanding tourist attraction cooperation: An application of network analysis to the case of Shanghai, China

This study explores the profile structure of tourist attraction cooperation from the perspectives of tourists and government by using web-based text data. Targets were tourist attractions in Shanghai rated grade 3A and above. The study collected travel notes published by tourists about their travel experiences on blog communities, as well as official news released by the Chinese government. Based on frequencies of occurrence and co-occurrence of information about tourist attractions in these travel notes and official news items, levels of cooperation between tourist attractions is analyzed. The results indicate a difference in the popularity of tourist attractions as portrayed in travel notes and official news. In addition, there are significant differences between the government's and tourists’ preferences for tourist attraction cooperation. The profile structure of tourist attraction cooperation from the government perspective is not consistent with real cooperation structure as seen from the tourist's perspective. A number of policy implications for tourism development emerge and are presented.