2026 Theses Master's

Integrating Land Use, Visitor Behavior, and Economic Feasibility: A Dynamic Framework for the Long-Term Development of Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts (SITR)

Wang, Wenji

The Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts (SITR), anchored by Shanghai Disneyland, is one of the most significant large-scale cultural tourism developments in China. Since the completion of Phase I, the project has demonstrated strong market performance and regional impact. However, as long-term development progresses, new challenges have emerged, including land-use restructuring, development phasing, capacity management, and long-term economic sustainability.

This study aims to systematically assess the feasibility of SITR’s long-term development by addressing key issues related to land-use transformation, economic modelling, and spatial strategy optimization. Specifically, the research focuses on identifying effective land-use transformation strategies from global theme park developments, constructing an integrated feasibility assessment framework that combines land-use efficiency and economic sustainability, and exploring spatial strategies that balance revenue generation with ecological constraints.

To address these questions, the study develops an integrated analytical framework combining comparative case studies, empirical visitor data, and economic modelling.

Chapters 1–3 establish the research background, theoretical foundation, and research questions.

Chapter 4 presents comparative case studies of four Disney resorts, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and the first gate of Shanghai, highlighting how different land-use transformation pathways influence development outcomes.

Chapter 5 outlines the research methodology, including land-use evaluation, economic modelling, and stakeholder interviews.

Chapter 6 presents the key findings. The analysis shows that visitor growth at Shanghai Disneyland follows a “base demand + IP-driven increment” pattern, highlighting the critical role of content expansion. Spatially, demand is driven by visitor services, with high-value functions concentrated near the core area. Economically, project performance depends on both visitor volume and per-capita spending. Under baseline assumptions, projected revenues are sufficient to cover operational and capital costs, indicating preliminary financial feasibility.

Chapter 7 discusses implications and Chapter 8 concludes the study. Based on these findings, the study proposes a shift from traditional static planning toward a “spatial–economic coupling” framework, in which land use, capacity, and revenue are treated as an integrated system. Key strategies include:

- Develop demand-driven forecasting to align land use with market demand and infrastructure capacity
- Prioritize high-value, visitor-oriented functions to extend stay duration and increase spending
- Enhance development flexibility through phased planning and optimized transitional land-use strategies

Overall, SITR has the potential to evolve from a single tourism destination into a dynamic and adaptive development system. This study demonstrates that successful theme park development depends on the coordinated interaction between spatial structure, operational mechanisms, and market dynamics, and proposes a transferable framework for large-scale cultural tourism projects.