Rural tourism and poverty alleviation: the case of Nujiang, Yunnan, China
by Li Yang
International Journal of Tourism Anthropology (IJTA), Vol. 4, No. 4, 2015

Abstract: Rural tourism emerged in China in the late 1980s as a development strategy to combat poverty, to minimise regional inequality and to modernise the conditions of rural, remote areas where ethnic minority people live. This study examines rural tourism and poverty alleviation in the Chinese context and explores the role of community-based tourism activities to secure and improve people's livelihoods, using a 'tourist model village' - Zhongding in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, as a case study. The study reveals that although tourism has generated some additional income for local people, there are limits to its potential. Tourism impacts are substantial for the few people who directly benefit, but most residents have not benefited much from tourism development due to lack of capital, business skills and connections. There is great potential for improvement in the system of public support and local entrepreneurship. The study raises the question whether tourism initiatives truly contribute to improving the standards of living of the poor. Alternative livelihoods other than tourism may be needed.

Online publication date: Sat, 02-Jan-2016

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Tourism Anthropology (IJTA):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com