Spatial-temporal behaviour of hikers in the southeastern margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: insights from volunteered geographic information

Hikers exhibit distinct spatial-temporal behaviors compared to traditional tourists, with significant implications for sustainable tourism planning and management. A study analyzing the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau—home to multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites—revealed that hikers differ markedly in travel duration, mode, and destination preferences. Researchers leveraged volunteered geographic information (VGI) alongside seasonal intensity indices, kernel density analysis, line density analysis, and K-means clustering to map these patterns. The findings highlight critical insights for regional tourism development, particularly in balancing conservation with visitor engagement in this ecologically and culturally rich area.

Zhao, O., & Wang, J. (2023). Spatial-temporal behaviour of hikers in the southeastern margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: insights from volunteered geographic information. Geocarto International, 38(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2023.2296183