Development Strategies for Z County E-sports Town in Chongqing: Integration of E-sports, Tourism, and Agriculture under New Policies

Chongqing Z County E-sports Town was once included in the “first batch of sports and leisure characteristic town pilot project list” issued by the General Administration of Sports of China. After several years of development, the e-sports industry in Z County e-sports town has struggled with issues such as a limited market, low popularity, poor business performance, and a lack of income generation capabilities. These challenges have severely hindered the town’s development, resulting in its exclusion from the recent “Chongqing characteristic town list.” Under the requirements of new policies, it can no longer promote itself, attract investment, or undertake project construction under the name of a “characteristic town” and must undergo redevelopment. This paper employs case analysis and comparative investigation methods to conduct an in-depth empirical study on the development of Z County E-sports Town. It is proposed that under the new policy environment, the town should foster the deep integration of its existing e-sports industry and culture with tourism and agriculture, transforming Z County E-sports Town into a new characteristic tourist destination. The findings of this paper offer a reference for the development of similar towns facing stagnation and provide case support for the construction of tourist destinations featuring e-sports.