Improving rural tourism go­ver­nan­ce in China on the basis of efficiency assessment

Authors

  • Fu Qi Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus , Pingdingshan University, 2 Chongwen Road, Pingdingshan 467000, China
  • Ihar P. Dzeraviaha Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Shao Ziyu Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Keywords:

rural tourism, economic efficiency, data envelopment analysis, efficiency decomposition, county economy, scale efficiency, pure technical efficiency
Supporting Agencies
This work was supported by China Scholarship Council (grant No. 202208400016).

Abstract

Facing the issue of high investment, low return in China’s rural tourism, this study employs a measurement – decomposition – diagnosis – governance framework and data envelopment analysis to examine panel data from 40 tourism counties (2011–2022). By decomposing technical efficiency into pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency, it identifies key constraints. Results indicate that average county efficiency remained at 50.3–61.5 % of the production frontier, with growth heavily reliant on scale expansion while managerial (technological) efficiency stagnated. Then counties are categorised into four types (system-optimised, technology-driven, scale-driven, and transformation dilemma) based on pure technical efficiency or scale efficiency performance, with causes linked to resource endowment, government role, and industrial integration. Therefore, a differentiated governance framework is proposed to facilitate a transition from scale-driven to innovation-driven growth. The study provides a refined tool for analysing regional tourism heterogeneity and offers practical policy insights.

Author Biographies

  • Fu Qi, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus, Pingdingshan University, 2 Chongwen Road, Pingdingshan 467000, China

    postgraduate student at the department of financial cont­rol, analysis, and audit, faculty of economics, Belarusian State University, and lecturer at the school of economics and management, Pingdingshan University.

  • Ihar P. Dzeraviaha, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    PhD (economics); professor at the department of financial control, analysis, and audit, faculty of economics

  • Shao Ziyu, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    postgraduate student at the department of financial control, analysis, and audit, faculty of economics

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Published

2026-06-23

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No. 1 (2026): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Economics

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P. Economic Systems

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How to Cite

[1]
Qi, F. et al. 2026. Improving rural tourism go­ver­nan­ce in China on the basis of efficiency assessment. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Economics. 1 (Jun. 2026), 144–154.