Potentials of community-based tourism in transformations towards green economies after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in West China

This study investigates the contrasting sceneries of community-based tourism after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and focuses on the potentials of tourism in transformations towards green economies. How are tourism and environment linked in a sustainable relationship? And how can potentials of community-based tourism be directed in transformations towards green economies? A qualitative research design is used to examine contrasting sceneries and specific green elements of community-based tourism in a Qiang people's fortress village in Mao County, Sichuan Province, West China and further discuss how tourism can be compatible with human wellbeing through demonstrating a commitment to sustainable development. The study argues that potential economic, social and environmental costs of tourism need to be considered when evaluating the loss of community benefits toward sustainability. The green elements suggest the potential of community-based tourism in transformations towards green economies, involving green agricultural, green building, and green energy, green governance, green service and green consumption. This study will contribute to the debate about the relationship between tourism and environment sustainability in the green economies, as well as the critique of what can be learned for community development from green tourism in mountainous regions after the inevitable natural disasters.

Rural community tourism in western Sichuan's Qiang nationality: a case study of Wulong Stockade

The importance of the local economy of the development of tourism resources in China＇s relatively underdeveloped minority areas is already common knowledge in academic and business circles. However it＇s necessary to research more on specific patterns of tourism development in these ethnic minority areas. This paper studies Wulong Stockade in Beichuan County in Sichuan Province and examines the distinctive experience of the local Qiang community about developing local tourism resources and the local funding of the development. It notes how the introduction of new re-afforestation laws of 1999 affected the traditional, agriculture-based economy and how a member of the communio： was a key motivator in initiating tourism as a new economic resource. It has also explored changes in the economic conditions of Qiang peasants since tourism began in Wulong Stockade, where local incomes have increased considerably. This paper focuses on a characteristic Qiang area in the mountains of western Sichuan, demonstrates the necessity and feasibility of community tourism development, and uggests that other ethnic minority mountain villages in rural areas draw lessons from Wulong Stockade＇s experience.

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON COMMUNITY TOURISM

It is a tendency to construct a tourist destination into a tourist community. This appears to be an appropriate approach to practice sustainable tourism development. Classic tourism, ecotourism and community tourism may be the three stages in tourism development. Classic tourism focuses on how to amuse people and to get best economic benefit. Ecotourism with the concept of sustainable development suggests what we should do in tourism development. Community tourism tells us how we can do to get sustainable tourism development. The differences among them are illustrated in the paper. Having analyzed the formation mechanism of tourist resources, the author investigates classification, stability, and evolution of tourist communities. The four types of tourist communities: natural resources based tourist community, policy oriented tourist community, economy based tourist community, and history sediment tourist community have different stabilities. The paper describes the feedback mechanism and relationship among tourist flows. It also discusses basic development principles of tourist community and points out that the optimization of the structures of a tourist community is the key way to improve the efficiency of tourist flows.

Is Tourism the (Only) Best “Choice” for Community Rehabilitation and Development?

Economic conditions,societies,and current changes make many communities in Thailand face changes in occupation and life,especially suburban communities which face loneliness and sluggishness.With this problem,renovation and development of communities ensue.Many communities have changed their image to be the“tourism community”,the result of which is generally perceived as either failure or success.According to this phenomenon,the author would like to present a story through a case study of Pak Nam Prasae Community,Klaeng District,Rayong Province.The author had an opportunity to conduct a participatory action research with collaboration for the main objectives which are to support knowledge body that leads the community out of loneliness and sluggishness and to create tourism activities.Nowadays,this community has become a popular tourist attraction,which is promoted as part of the national tourism by Tourism Authority of Thailand.The author would like to present both sides of the development through the tool called“tourism”which was employed by the community as a new approach to maintain,renovate,and develop the community.Even though in the initial stage,promotion and support from the external network were important,the most important thing is the cost of community in certain aspects that support the community to insist,improve,and connect to new networks by itself.On the other hand,the community will have to face with new different issues and challenges,especially in terms of management and share of benefit gained from using the local resources to develop the tourism in the community.According to these two pieces of information,after all,whether“tourism”is the best tool for development is an important issue that the community has to consider.

The Development of Community Tourism： A Relational View of Development Economics

By adopting the research method of documentary research, combining the related theory of development economics, and starting with the concept of community tourism, this paper brings forward the ＂Dual Structure＂ and the Kuznets Hypothesis of community tourism, and defines ＂the game theory＂ between the residents of community and tourists, as well as the increasing relationship between the per capita tourism income of community and the Geordie Modulus of community. Conclusively it puts forward the way of developing the tourism and community harmoniously, namely, taking the human as the dominant factor and being joined by the community.

Livelihood changes and evolution of upland ethnic communities driven by tourism:a case study in Guizhou Province,southwest China

As an effective livelihood approach to alleviate poverty without rural population migration, ethnic tourism has become the primary choice of economic development in ethnic areas worldwide in addition to traditional livelihood approaches. This article applies the theories of livelihood to study the community evolution driven by tourism livelihood and examine three mountainous tourism communities in different stages of tourist area life cycle. Drawing on the methods of GIS spatial analysis, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, this article proposes a sustainable livelihood framework for ethnic tourism to explore the evolution of ethnic tourism communities by identifying changes in livelihood assets(natural, financial, social, cultural and human capitals) in the process of tourism development. The results show that the development of ethnic tourism has led to changes in the increase of building land, and the diversification of land use functions with a trend of shifting from meeting local villagers' living needs to satisfying tourists, income composition and uneven distribution of tourism income spatially. Ethnic tourism also led to the deterioration of traditional social management structure, collapse of neighboring relationship, the over- commercialization and staged authenticity of ethnic culture, as well as the gradual vanish of agricultural knowledge with a trend of increasing modern business knowledge and higher education. In addition, these changes, involving livelihood assets from natural, economic, human, social and cultural aspects are interrelated and interactive, which form new evolution characters of ethnic community. This study reveals the conflicts over livelihood approaches which have formed new vulnerabilities to impact on sustainable evolution of ethnic communities. This research provides implications for achieving the sustainable development of ethnic communities with the driving force of tourism livelihood.

Community Perspective to Agricultural Heritage Conservation and Tourism Development

The rich biodiversity and cultural patterns of agricultural heritage sites are preserved unconsciously in the traditional way of life of local communities.They are also attractive resources for tourism development,which supports the conservation of agricultural heritage systems （AHS） while providing benefits for local communities.As a typical case study,a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System （GIAHS） site with a Rice-Fish-Duck agricultural system （RFDS） in Congjiang County of South West China is introduced to illustrate the community approach to agricultural heritage conservation and sustainable tourism development.The concept of a community approach to agricultural heritage is dynamic both in terms of conservation and livelihood adaptation.Six elements in the concept model and their relationship were analyzed.The community is the core element and the other five are：local community identity,livelihoods,local sustainable tourism development,the farming system,biodiversity and cultural patterns in the site.All are interconnected and thus support the agricultural heritage conservation of agricultural heritage and the development of sustainable tourism in the heritage sites.

Reflections on the Myth of Tourism Preserving “Traditional” Agricultural Landscapes

The renewed interest in ＂cultural landscapes＂ is a global phenomenon to be explained in a multi dimensional way.The process of revalorising traditional habitats,people and their way of living in a particular environment,is closely linked to the introduction of heritage as ＂a cultural,social and economic construct＂.The recognition of cultural landscapes as a new category on the world heritage list （UNESCO） since the 1990s,emphasises the importance of the human-environment interaction and the need for understanding the dynamics of landscapes in time and space.Values are changing and new opportunities emerge for a ＂dynamic preservation＂ of iconic landscapes and traditional communities.A cross disciplinary understanding of interacting processes is essential to plan and manage sustainable heritage（land）scapes.Various pilot projects and case studies-world-wide-lead to critical reflections about the sustainability of heritage landscapes and the sovereign role of tourism.The perspective of ＂Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites＂ （GIAHS）,supported by economic resources generated by tourism,requires a research-based approach analysing opportunities and expectations,assessing strategic policies and top down politics.