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Efficient knowledge transfer enhances tourism destination competitiveness. Multiple factors, however, affect knowledge transfer, making it a complex process to quantify. To address this complexity, we developed a quantitative tool by integrating a diffusion model with the major antecedents of knowledge transfer identified in the knowledge management literature. We applied this model in the Western Australian tourism industry and demonstrated its practicality. The proposed model provides a quantitative tool for destination management organizations to monitor, assess and improve the efficiency of knowledge diffusion within their tourism destinations. Such improved knowledge diffusion is critical in strengthening a destination's innovative capabilities and competitiveness.

This study examines the impact of the national happiness level of a country on Chinese tourists' travel choices using panel data of 113 countries from 2012 to 2017, controlling for other factors that contribute to Chinese outbound tourism. The results show that the happiness level of a destination country is positively and significantly associated with Chinese tourist arrivals in that country. Examination of the moderation effect reveals cultural distance plays an important role in the impact a destination's happiness level has on Chinese outbound tourism. The influence of a destination's happiness level decreases when the cultural distance increases.

The overall purpose of this study is to examine the moderating roles of gender and generation in the effects of perceived destination image on tourist attitude and visit intention among Chinese potential tourists to Australia. Australia is one of the preferred destinations to Chinese tourists and the China market emerges to be increasingly important to destination marketing organisations in Australia. Echoing the call for more gender studies in the tourism literature and also based on the generation theory, this study employed a cross-sectional questionnaire survey design and used structural equation modelling in its analysis. Survey data were collected through convenience sampling in the Chinese city Harbin at various public venues where urban residents can be found. The study identified Services and Tourism Provisions, Natural Environment, and Quality of Life as three destination image dimensions perceived by Chinese urban residents toward Australia. Services and Tourism Provisions, Natural Environment both positively affected tourist attitude, which in turn levered up visit intention. The study found that the effect of Services and Tourism Provisions on attitude was stronger for men than for women, while the effect of Natural Environment on attitude was stronger for women than for men; for the Post-80s/90s generation, the effect of Natural Environment on attitude was significantly stronger than that for the Post-60s/70s generation. Implications for tourism marketers and managers are discussed.

As an epilogue to this special issue, this paper offers a brief critical review of Chinese-outbound-tourism literature, developed so far in conjunction with the articles accepted in this special issue. In doing so, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art knowledge with regard to Chinese outbound tourism. Issues other than those presented in the special issue articles are also discussed and highlighted. These include the social and environment issues that could possibly prove not as positive as economic benefits in destination countries.

This study follows the evolution of Chinese outbound tourism literature over a 30-year period, from 1983 to 2012. A systematic review is undertaken of articles published in the three leading tourism journals to identify research trends. The review uses an evolutionary metaphor to chronicle the main contributions over three distinct stages: crawling out (1983–1992), scurrying about (1993–2002), and walking erect (2003–2012). The article concludes with a discussion of the key findings and suggestions for future research. Walking erect is appropriate and suggests this body of knowledge is still developing and has a considerable way to go. It also denotes that Chinese outbound tourism is likely to impact on Western research and will increasingly make its own contributions to generating new theory within the broader international tourism domain.

Tourism forecasts predict that growth in outbound tourism from China over the next decade will outstrip every other international market. Destination marketers are looking to academia for guidance on how best to respond to this opportunity. However, to date, there has been a scarcity of research examining the drivers of destination choice and effective marketing communication for Chinese travellers. The research that has been undertaken has relied largely on established tourism theory developed in a mature, Western context. This special issue responds to this need and has the goal of stimulating innovative new theory and approaches appropriate to the study of emerging tourism markets.

This is an author's accepted manuscript of: Huang, Z., Huang, S., Yang, Y., Tang, Z., Yang, Y., & Zhou, Y. (2021). In pursuit of happiness: Impact of the happiness level of a destination country on Chinese tourists' outbound travel choices. International Journal of Tourism Research, 23(5), 713-725. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2421