Educational Mechanism Innovation in Tourism Management Programs under Digital Cultural Tourism

Abstract

The rapid development of digital cultural tourism has profoundly reshaped the structure, operation, and talent demand of the tourism
industry, posing new challenges to tourism management education. Traditional tourism management programs, which emphasize theoretical
instruction and fragmented practical training, are increasingly unable to meet the requirements of digitally empowered cultural tourism development. This study investigates educational mechanism innovation in tourism management programs under the context of digital cultural
tourism, drawing evidence from the Chengdu-Chongqing region of China. Based on policy analysis, institutional practices, and program-level
observations, the study examines how tourism management education responds to digital transformation, cultural integration, and regional
industrial upgrading. The findings indicate that effective educational innovation relies on the coordinated reform of curriculum structure, practice-oriented teaching mechanisms, interdisciplinary integration, and regionally embedded collaboration between universities and the cultural
tourism industry. The study proposes an educational mechanism innovation framework that emphasizes alignment with digital cultural tourism
development, flexible curriculum design, and sustained industry-education interaction. This research provides empirical evidence for regional
higher education reform and offers practical insights for tourism management programs seeking to enhance talent cultivation quality in the era
of digital cultural tourism.