Chinese tourism modernization in the context of Chinese modernization is a new requirement and direction for tourism development in the new era. In view of the important spirit of the Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, this article focuses on the theoretical connotations, opportunities and challenges, value logic, essential requirements, practical contradictions, and realization routes of Chinese tourism modernization. The core insights are as follows: (1) The development pattern of China's tourism industry is facing a fundamental transformation, and Chinese tourism modernization is a strategic opportunity and an important timing for the next transformation and upgrading of tourism; (2) High-quality tourism development is the primary task of Chinese tourism modernization, as well as an important aspect of promoting Chinese modernization, and the healthy vitality and agglomeration development of enterprises is an important foundation of this; (3) Chinese tourism modernization should respond to and follow the five connotative features of Chinese modernization, including a huge population, common prosperity for all, material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development, to examine its close connection with tourism modernization; (4) The in-depth integration of culture and tourism, synergy nature of both public institution and industry, equal construction of tourism public services, and innovation are inevitable requirements for Chinese tourism modernization and also key paths to its realization; (5) Chinese tourism modernization should be actively integrated into key tasks such as rural revitalization, regional coordination, new urbanization, etc. The value of tourism development in promoting the implementation of national strategies should be fully utilized.

This paper untangles the various perspectives and academic issues regarding tourism research. It mainly focuses on three topics: the nature and practical significance of tourism, modes of thinking in response to the changing trends in tourism demand, and issues that need attention for the deepening of tourism research. This paper explores the nature of tourism from the perspective of necessity and spatial-temporality, classifying the types of tourism experiences based on multiple dimensions. Moreover, it suggests that four modes of thinking, including scenario thinking and platform thinking, are required in response to changes in tourism demand. Finally, it proposes that in the promotion of tourism research, close attention should be paid to the two core issues of “adopting a problem-solving approach in academic research” and “adhering to academic ethics in data selection”.