Development of Tourism Earth Science In China

In China, tourism earth science has developed along with the burgeoning tourism industry. Its development can be divided into four stages: (1) Gestation stage (1978–1985). In 1979, China proposed the major policy of reform and opening up, which ushered in the rise of the tourism industry, and academia actively used earth science knowledge to serve the tourism industry. In April 1985, the Science Popularisation Committee of the Geological Society of China held the first ‘National Tourism Earth Science Symposium’. In the meeting, the ‘China Tourism Earth Science Research Institute Organising Committee’ was established. This set up a platform for the exchange of studies on how earth science could serve tourism, which prompted the establishment of a tourism earth science discipline. (2) Start-up stage (1986–1991). It was agreed that the National Tourism Earth Science Conference would be held once every year. The recruitment of members began, and provincial branches were established. The...