Constraints of Rural Tourism’s Contribution to Local Economic Development and Intervention Mechanisms—Evidence from Shandong Province, China

For visitors who live in the modern, hectic, and bustling city life, rural destinations provide an alternative to escape in a serene environment. Rural tourism also promotes community development, rural restructuring, and capital redistribution. Prior studies paid little attention to the role that rural tourism plays in local economic development. Particularly, what hinders rural tourism’s contribution to sustainable local economic development is inadequately examined. To address this gap in the literature, the current study explores the contribution of rural tourism to local economic development, using Shandong Province as a context. Research participants perceive that rural tourism makes positive contributions to sustainable local economic development by increasing household income, facilitating capital redistribution, and promoting rural entrepreneurship. However, its contribution has been constrained by financial, structural, marketing, and technological factors. Research implications are discussed, and avenues for future research are suggested.