Approaching tourism: perspectives from the young hosts in a rural heritage community in Tibet

Abstract

This study reports an investigation of the ways in which local youth understand tourism in a rural heritage community in Tibet, China. The sustainable livelihoods framework was adopted to organise the areas of interest. Focus groups were initially conducted, and the resulting information was used in a subsequent questionnaire-based survey. It was found that the young Tibetan hosts understood tourists as ‘passers-by' in different vehicles. The tourists were seen as visiting the community because of two major tourism resources: the traditional Tibetan incense-making techniques, and the residence and culture of a Tibetan historical figure. The youth were positive towards tourism development in their community and identified some activities and strategies for their involvement in tourism. In assessing future outcomes and directions for tourism, the rural Tibetan youth would like to see both community and personal well-being improved through tourism.

Keywords:

• Tibet
• young hosts
• rural heritage
• community
• emic voices

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to Professor Philip L. Pearce in James Cook University, for his distinctive supervision, thorough comments and proofreading of earlier drafts. Great thanks are also extended to one of the reviewers, who offered penetrating and detailed comments to improve this work.