A Comprehensive Analysis on Integrity Conservation of World Natural Heritage Site and Buffer Zone Tourism Development with an Implication for Karst Heritage Sites

World Heritage (WH) is an important achievement in the development of human civilization and a treasure shared by all humanity. In recent years, research on heritage conservation and heritage tourism has increased, but few studies have focused on the relationship between the integrity conservation of World Heritage sites (WHSs) and tourism industry development in buffer zones. The ecological environment in karst areas is more fragile, vulnerable to human intervention, and difficult to recover once damaged, so the integrity conservation of WH karst sites (WHKSs) and the development of tourism in buffer zones also need further research. This paper conducts a systematic literature review based on 177 related articles retrieved from the Web of Science database and CNKI database. The paper analyzes the selected literature in terms of annual numbers, research regions, countries, contents, and institutions; secondly, it summarizes the main progress and landmark results of related research at home and abroad; finally, it proposes seven key scientific questions to be addressed according to the current situation of WHKSs.