Short answer

When designing heritage tourism initiatives, consider the spatial proximity and potential synergy between different types of cultural assets, like intangible heritage and historic urban landscapes.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: Land (2025)
Method: Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis and matrix modeling
Evidence: Moderate effect

Understanding the spatial relationships between intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and historic cultural cities (HCCs) can unlock new avenues for heritage conservation and tourism development. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Land. Using Geographic information system (gis) analysis and matrix modeling, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing heritage tourism initiatives, consider the spatial proximity and potential synergy between different types of cultural assets, like intangible heritage and historic urban landscapes.

Study

Innovation & DesignNew This WeekModerate effect

Synergistic Development of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Historic Cities Enhances Tourism Potential

Understanding the spatial relationships between intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and historic cultural cities (HCCs) can unlock new avenues for heritage conservation and tourism development.

Land · 2025

Key Findings

01Traditional craftsmanship and drama are the most prevalent forms of national-level ICH in Anhui Province.
02ICH and HCC resources exhibit uneven regional distribution, with certain cities being richer than others.
03National-level ICH is randomly distributed, while provincial-level ICH and HCCs show aggregation, with a positive spatial correlation between ICH and HCC resources.
04Four distinct categories of cities emerged based on their combined ICH tourism and HCC potential: high-high, high-low, low-high, and low-low.

Application

Design takeaway

When designing heritage tourism initiatives, consider the spatial proximity and potential synergy between different types of cultural assets, like intangible heritage and historic urban landscapes.

How to apply

When planning a heritage tourism project, map out the locations of both intangible cultural heritage sites and historic urban areas to identify clusters and potential development hubs.

Project actions

01When choosing a case study for your design project, consider if it involves multiple types of heritage that might have spatial relationships.
02Think about how mapping and spatial analysis could inform your design decisions.

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the spatial distribution characteristics and synergistic development mechanisms between intangible cultural heritage and historic cultural cities in Anhui Province, and how can this understanding inform heritage conservation and tourism potential?

MethodGeographic Information System (GIS) analysis and matrix modeling

ProcedureThe study analyzed the spatial distribution of ICH and HCCs in Anhui Province using GIS. An interactive matrix model was constructed to categorize cities based on their potential for ICH tourism and their status as HCCs.

ContextCultural heritage management and tourism planning in Anhui Province, China

Variables

IV["Presence and type of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)","Status as a Historic Cultural City (HCC)"]

DV["Tourism potential","Synergistic development opportunities","Spatial distribution patterns"]

CV["Geographic region (Anhui Province)","Time period (2024)"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilizes GIS for robust spatial analysis.
+Develops a practical matrix model for categorization and strategic planning.

Limitations

The availability and accuracy of data on intangible cultural heritage and historic cities can vary significantly, impacting the reliability of spatial analysis.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the findings depends on the accuracy and completeness of the GIS data used for ICH and HCCs. Validity is supported by the development of a matrix model that categorizes cities based on observed spatial relationships.

Think critically

How might the 'random' distribution of national-level ICH versus the 'aggregated' distribution of provincial-level ICH influence different conservation and tourism strategies?

Design Principles

"Integrate diverse cultural assets based on their spatial relationships to maximize conservation and tourism impact."

This research highlights that heritage sites are not isolated entities but exist within a spatial context. By analyzing the co-distribution and potential synergies between ICH and HCCs, designers and urban planners can identify opportunities for integrated heritage tourism strategies that benefit both cultural preservation and local economies.

What This Means for Your Design

This study shows that where intangible cultural heritage (like traditional crafts or performances) is found, historic old towns or cities often are too. By understanding this connection, we can plan better tourism that helps protect both and brings in visitors.

How to use in your project

1.Use the concept of spatial correlation between heritage types to justify your design choices for a tourism-focused project.
2.Reference the matrix model as a way to analyze and categorize potential sites for your design intervention.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the importance of spatial analysis in understanding the potential for synergistic development between intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and historic cultural cities (HCCs). By mapping their distribution and identifying correlations, as demonstrated in the case of Anhui Province, designers can develop more effective heritage tourism strategies that leverage the combined appeal of these assets, leading to enhanced conservation efforts and economic benefits.

Source

Land

Spatial Distribution and Tourism Potential of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Historic and Cultural Cities—A Case Study of Anhui Province, China

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about synergistic development of intangible cultural heritage and historic cities enhances tourism potential?: When designing heritage tourism initiatives, consider the spatial proximity and potential synergy between different types of cultural assets, like intangible heritage and historic urban landscapes. Evidence: Land (2025).
Why does "Synergistic Development of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Historic Cities Enhances Tourism Potential" matter for design?: This research highlights that heritage sites are not isolated entities but exist within a spatial context. By analyzing the co-distribution and potential synergies between ICH and HCCs, designers and urban planners can identify opportunities for integrated heritage tourism strategies that benefit both cultural preservation and local economies.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing heritage tourism initiatives, consider the spatial proximity and potential synergy between different types of cultural assets, like intangible heritage and historic urban landscapes.
What were the main findings?: Traditional craftsmanship and drama are the most prevalent forms of national-level ICH in Anhui Province.. ICH and HCC resources exhibit uneven regional distribution, with certain cities being richer than others.. National-level ICH is randomly distributed, while provincial-level ICH and HCCs show aggregation, with a positive spatial correlation between ICH and HCC resources.. Four distinct categories of cities emerged based on their combined ICH tourism and HCC potential: high-high, high-low, low-high, and low-low.
What research method was used?: Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis and matrix modeling.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2025 journal from Land.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When planning a heritage tourism project, map out the locations of both intangible cultural heritage sites and historic urban areas to identify clusters and potential development hubs.
What are the limitations?: The study is specific to Anhui Province, China, and findings may not be directly transferable to other regions without further investigation.