The evolution of Chinese border tourism policies: an intergovernmental perspective on border tourism in Xishuangbanna

The study examines the evolution of China’s border tourism policies based on the case of Xishuangbanna. Findings show a three-stage policy evolution, namely bottom-up promotion of tourism (the 1990s), inhibition of tourism (the 2000s), and reposition of tourism within broad national contexts (the 2010s). The lei motif behind such policies lies in a pragmatism born of the need to achieve economic growth via border openness and border security. It suggests that the Belt and Road Initiative is a continuation of policies that date back to China’s “Opening-up” and tourism is consistent contributor to policy evolution.