Dynamic knowledge practices in tourism village development: An activity theory perspective

Abstract

This study investigates why tourism village development models often fail to replicate success despite cultural and geographic similarities. Using activity theory and knowledge management concepts, we analyze two adjacent Chinese villages to trace explicit knowledge flow and examine disrupted tacit and indigenous knowledge practices. Findings show that while surface-level knowledge transfer occurs, contradictions within activity system elements, especially the marginalization of indigenous knowledge and community capacity, hinder effective knowledge application. Knowledge flow is inherently nonlinear and deeply context-dependent. We develop a comparative activity system model that highlights how success hinges less on knowledge transfer and more on the integration of indigenous knowledge into local tourism development. This model underscores the importance of stable, embedded knowledge structures for sustainable outcomes. The study challenges oversimplified assumptions about replicability in tourism development and offers insights for culturally sensitive, context-specific strategies in knowledge practices in tourism development.