Datong Religious Tourism Resource Evaluation And Development

Religion is a kind of historical culture and the valuable resource of tourism, especially the temple, Garden architecture, rock cave, painting, etc. These interest sites and places are very important component of Historical and Cultural Heritage. China is abundant in religion culture relics, almost half of them locate in Datong City. So, it is an important subject that how to evaluate, exploit and conserve the tourist resource.Datong City is one of the 24 historic and cultural cities, it has more than 2000 years history and rich cultural heritage. There are 345 key cultural relic protections, which include 22 cultural relic units under State-level Protection, 20 cultural relic units at provincial-level Protection and 303 cultural relic units at Municipal Level Protection. Religious tourist resource contains a large share of Historical and Cultural Heritage, comprise 45.5%. it include 12 state -level cultural relic protection units(54.5%) and 8 provincial level cultural relic protection units(35%). The most famous tourism product such as Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong City are both religious tourist resources. Therefore, the development of these tourism resources plays an important role in tourist business in Datong City. While, there are many problems in exploiting Religious tourist resource when considering the conservation and sustainable utilization of tourist resource in real condition. This study was on the development religious tourist resource in Datong city by investigation and analyzation of the present situation, comprehensive evaluation of the religious tourist resource and analyzation of the development potentiality of main resource, then 4 development modes and current problem were brought on resource development. Finally, some suggestions on development of Religious tourist resource were proposed. The main contents are as follows:First, the recent development in religious tourism was analyzed and the recent progress of tourist resources development was summarized, base on numerous of documents. The current situation and characteristic of religious tourist resource in Datong City were studied, the main religious tourism resource was also introduced, and its condition of exploitation was analyzed as well.Second, Qualitative and quantitative evaluation to religious tourism of Datong have been made. The result of qualitative is that religious tour resources have higher cultural and artistic value; Religious tour resources have higher scientific research value; Religious tour resources are relatively intact; The history of Religious Tour Resources is more longinquity; Natural landscape and humanities landscape blend relatively weak.Quantitative evaluation includes two parts. One part is comprehensive evaluation to resources quality the other one is evaluation of development potential of the 20 main religious tour resources. Expert consultation method and analytic hierarchy process are used in evaluation of resources quality .The result is that the value of religious tour resources plays the most important role in religious tour resources development. In the next place, tourism resources development and environmental level of scenic spot are also play an important role in religious tour resources development. Multi-level grey approach was used in the evaluation of resources development potential.The results are that 4 first class religious tour resources are the best development zones, 10 second class religious tour resources are the better development zones,6 third class religious tour resources are poor development zones.Third, the main problems in religious tour resources of Datong were analyzed based on the evaluation. According to the problems and the evaluation of the resources, 4 development modes have been put forward. They are religious culture tourism, religious leisure shopping tourism, ecological tourism and sightseeing vacation tourism. At last, development strategy of religious tourism has been put forward. Deeply mining cultural connotation of religious tour resources, strengthening the tourism regional cooperation, strengthening Religious Tour Resources propaganda, strengthening Religious Tour Resources protection, developing special tourism products, strengthening tourism management team construction, training good tour guide and playing a positive role of religious tour resources.