The Demand for Forest-based Wellness Activities, Products and Destinations in Beijing

doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2023.02.007

Abstract

Abstract:

Forest-based wellness (FBW), the enhancement of health and well-being through activities in forested environments, is growing rapidly in China. This paper examines the demand for such experiences based on a survey of mainly young and middle-aged Beijing residents using quantitative analytical methods. There is a widespread demand for forest health and wellness which is considered in three parts: physical and mental health needs, demand for forest health and wellness products, and forest health and wellness destinations. Young and middle-aged people have more obvious needs for relaxation and stress release, whereas middle-aged and elderly people focus mainly on improving immunity and sleep quality, and alleviating cervical and lumbar spine diseases. Respondents prefer experience-based products, and “environment quality”, “infrastructure construction” and “professionals and their service quality” are particularly important. There is a significant positive correlation among the three types of demand. Finally, based on the characteristics of Beijing’s forest health and wellness needs, suggestions are provided for forest-based health products and tourism development.

Key words: forest-based wellness, tourism demand, chronic diseases, Beijing

CONG Li, HOU Yinghui, Geoffrey WALL, LU Anqi. The Demand for Forest-based Wellness Activities, Products and Destinations in Beijing[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2023, 14(2): 289-298.

Figures/Tables 10

References 16

[1]	Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau. 2018. High pressure? Annoyed? Come back to nature for forest recuperation. http://yllhj.beijing.gov.cn/ztxx/lhysh/sh/201810/t20181025_108170.shtml.
[2]	Bian F, Liu Y, Ma L Y, et al. 2011. Analysis of spatial characteristics of recreation belt in Beijing forest park. Journal of Northwest Forestry University, 26(3): 204-208. (in Chinese)
[3]	Cong L, Zhang Y J. 2016. Constructing a scientific development system for the forest health industry. Tourism Tritune, 31(6): 6-8. (in Chinese)
[4]	Deng S L. 2016. Theoretical research and practice of forest health and maintenance. World Forestry Research, 29(6): 1-6. (in Chinese)
[5]	Deng X H, Li X F, Peng Y L. 2022. Research on the development of forest health tourism products. Journal of Jiangsu Economic and Trade Vocational and Technical College, 159(1): 29-32. (in Chinese)
[6]	Hartig T, Evans G W. 1993. Psychological foundations of nature experience. Advances in Psychology, 96: 427-457.
[7]	He M. 2017. China health industry development report. Beijing, China: Social Sciences Archives Press.
[8]	Kasetani T. 2009. Physiological effects of forest recreation in a young conifer forest in Hinokage Town, Japan. Silva Fennica, 43(2): 291-301.
[9]	Liu Z, Wang P. 2017. Research progress on forest health care at home and abroad. Hubei Forestry Science and Technology, 46(5): 53-58. (in Chinese)
[10]	Nan H L, Wang X P, Zhou C X, et al. 2019. Exploration and practice of forest rehabilitation in Beijing. Landscaping, 32(4): 55-57. (in Chinese)
[11]	Park B J, Furuya K, Kasetani T, et al. 2011. Relationship between psychological responses and physical environments in forest settings. Landscape & Urban Planning, 102(1): 24-32.
[12]	Song C. 2014. Analysis of the status quo of the development of the forestry tertiary industry in Beijing. China Urban Forestry, 12(2): 17-20. (in Chinese)
[13]	Xin X Y. 2019. Research on the ways of forest health industry to promote rural revitalization. China Forestry Industry, 2019(S2): 46-51. (in Chinese)
[14]	Xu C X. 2003. The characteristics of urban residents’ expectations for the development of surrounding tourism resources: Taking Hunan Heimifeng Forest Park as an example. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze River Basin, 12(1): 29-32. (in Chinese)
[15]	Xu M Y. 2015. On the demand of the tourism market and the development of tourism products. Tourism Overview (the second half of the month), 7(8): 33-34. (in Chinese)
[16]	Yang L P, Sun H J, Huang L P, et al. 2018. Overview of research on forest health. Forestry Inventory and Planning, 43(2): 161-166, 203. (in Chinese)

Feature variables	Type	Percentage (%)
Gender	Male	43.3
Gender	Female	56.7
Age	18-30 years	55.2
	31-45 years	18.0
	46-60 years	21.4
	Over 60 years	5.4
Level of education	Junior high school and below	5.4
	Secondary/High school	8.4
	College/University	57.4
	Graduate and above	28.8
Monthly household income per capita (yuan)	Less than 3000	19.5
	3000-6000	25.4
	6001-12000	27.1
	12001-20000	15.3
	More than 20000	12.8
Employment	Retired	7.4
	National civil servant	7.9
	Private owners/individuals	6.4
	General staff	24.6
	Students	30.0
	Professionals (e.g., doctors, teachers)	14.5
	Military personnel	0.5
	Other	8.6
Place of residence and nearest forest park distance	Near forest park (no more than 30 minutes’ walk)	20.2
	Arrival by transport within 1 hour	52.2
	1-2 hour by transport	17.7
	2 hours or more	9.9

Feature variables	Type	Percentage (%)
Gender	Male	43.3
Gender	Female	56.7
Age	18-30 years	55.2
	31-45 years	18.0
	46-60 years	21.4
	Over 60 years	5.4
Level of education	Junior high school and below	5.4
	Secondary/High school	8.4
	College/University	57.4
	Graduate and above	28.8
Monthly household income per capita (yuan)	Less than 3000	19.5
	3000-6000	25.4
	6001-12000	27.1
	12001-20000	15.3
	More than 20000	12.8
Employment	Retired	7.4
	National civil servant	7.9
	Private owners/individuals	6.4
	General staff	24.6
	Students	30.0
	Professionals (e.g., doctors, teachers)	14.5
	Military personnel	0.5
	Other	8.6
Place of residence and nearest forest park distance	Near forest park (no more than 30 minutes’ walk)	20.2
	Arrival by transport within 1 hour	52.2
	1-2 hour by transport	17.7
	2 hours or more	9.9

Factor name	Items	Demand element
Factor name	Items	Factor loading coefficients 1	Factor loading coefficients 2
Demand for recreation (18-45 years）	Relieve stress and improve mood	0.788
	Improve sleep quality and relax nerves	0.707
	Relieve fatigue and enhance aesthetic experience	0.797
	Improve immunity, strengthen physique	0.590
Chronic disease prevention and mitigation needs (18-45 years)	Prevention or remission of cervical or lumbar diseases		0.707
	Prevention or mitigation of respiratory diseases		0.809
	Prevention or relief of hypertension		0.872
	Prevention or mitigation of other chronic diseases		0.886
Physical and mental health needs (46 and over)	Prevention and mitigation of respiratory diseases	0.786
	Prevention or relief of hypertension	0.843
	Prevention and remission of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases	0.870
	Prevention or remission of endocrine system diseases, diabetes, etc.	0.792
	Prevention or mitigation of rheumatoid or arthritis	0.809
	Prevention or remission of cervical or lumbar diseases	0.866
	Improve sleep quality and relax nerves	0.822
	Relieve stress and feel good	0.789
	Improve immunity, strengthen physique	0.811
Demand for FBW products	Forest-led products	0.561
	Forest sports products	0.639
	Forest experience products	0.591
	Forest-assisted products	0.798
	Popular science education products	0.668
	Health management services (health consultation / physical examination / health file management, etc.)	0.786
FBW destination demand	Forest landscape enrichment		0.787
	Environmental quality		0.807
	Infrastructure construction		0.800
	Richness of healthy experience		0.657
	Internal and external transport convenience		0.711
	Perfect degree of scenic spot supervision and management		0.781
	Professionals and the quality of their services		0.771
	Aesthetic value of art		0.729

Factor name	Items	Demand element
Factor name	Items	Factor loading coefficients 1	Factor loading coefficients 2
Demand for recreation (18-45 years）	Relieve stress and improve mood	0.788
	Improve sleep quality and relax nerves	0.707
	Relieve fatigue and enhance aesthetic experience	0.797
	Improve immunity, strengthen physique	0.590
Chronic disease prevention and mitigation needs (18-45 years)	Prevention or remission of cervical or lumbar diseases		0.707
	Prevention or mitigation of respiratory diseases		0.809
	Prevention or relief of hypertension		0.872
	Prevention or mitigation of other chronic diseases		0.886
Physical and mental health needs (46 and over)	Prevention and mitigation of respiratory diseases	0.786
	Prevention or relief of hypertension	0.843
	Prevention and remission of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases	0.870
	Prevention or remission of endocrine system diseases, diabetes, etc.	0.792
	Prevention or mitigation of rheumatoid or arthritis	0.809
	Prevention or remission of cervical or lumbar diseases	0.866
	Improve sleep quality and relax nerves	0.822
	Relieve stress and feel good	0.789
	Improve immunity, strengthen physique	0.811
Demand for FBW products	Forest-led products	0.561
	Forest sports products	0.639
	Forest experience products	0.591
	Forest-assisted products	0.798
	Popular science education products	0.668
	Health management services (health consultation / physical examination / health file management, etc.)	0.786
FBW destination demand	Forest landscape enrichment		0.787
	Environmental quality		0.807
	Infrastructure construction		0.800
	Richness of healthy experience		0.657
	Internal and external transport convenience		0.711
	Perfect degree of scenic spot supervision and management		0.781
	Professionals and the quality of their services		0.771
	Aesthetic value of art		0.729

Different ages	Malady	Perception	Percentage (%)
18-45 years old (N=297)	Pressure	Large and hard to bear	10.1
		Substantial pressure	65.7
		Mild pressure	21.9
		Easy, no pressure	2.4
Over 45 (N=109）	Chronic diseases	Cervical or lumbar disease	32.1
		No chronic diseases	30.3
		Hypertension	29.0
		Respiratory diseases (rhinitis, bronchitis, pharyngitis, COPD, etc.)	27.5
		Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases	12.8
		Rheumatoid or arthritis	12.8
		Diseases of the nervous system (migraine, insomnia, etc.)	11.0
		Endocrine diseases (diabetes, etc.)	7.3
		Other	6.4