Beyond displacement: the co-existence of newcomers and local residents in the process of rural tourism gentrification in China

Abstract

The arrival of an increasing number of newcomers to rural areas has contributed to rural tourism gentrification, the sustainable development of which requires the co-existence of gentrifiers and local residents. While current research in gentrification and tourism studies highlights one-way power relations – highlighting the privileged position of either newcomers or local residents, few scholars have explored the more complex power relations between them. To address that gap, this study explores how Rural Tourism Makers (RTMs), a group of middle-class urbanites who lead the process of rural tourism gentrification in China, negotiate to co-exist with local residents. Through participant observation and in-depth interviews, the study captures a holistic picture of the relationships between RTMs and local residents in the Chinese context, which goes beyond direct displacement. Although RTMs have brought indirect displacement to local residents, local people have not become victims of rural tourism gentrification. Instead, they benefit from rural tourism development opportunities. Meanwhile, RTMs have compromised to adapt to the Renqing society in rural China, in which local residents are supported by a strong social network. The findings demonstrate new forms of indirect displacement and respond to the specifics of rural places in tourism gentrification studies in rural China.

Keywords:

• Rural tourism gentrification
• displacement
• host-guest relationship
• local residents
• newcomers
• China

Acknowledgments

We wish to express my profound appreciation to Dr Nick Clarke and Dr Brian J Hracs who provided constructive comments on earlier versions of this paper. The authors also deeply appreciate the thoughtful and transformative suggestions provided by the JoST reviewers and editors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by the State Scholarship Fund (201606190236) from the China Scholarship Council. The fieldwork of this research is also supported by the Research Mobility Programme from Worldwide Universities Network and the Dudley Stamp Memorial Award from the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

Notes on contributors

Peipei Chen

Peipei Chen is a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning in Nanjing University. She obtained her Ph.D of Human Geography from the University of Southampton (UK). Her research focuses on the mobility of urban middle class to the rural areas and their engagement in art/culture-led rural revitalization in China and she draws on theoretical insights from tourism studies, gentrification studies, and rural studies.

Min Zhang

Min Zhang is professor for human geography and urban-rural planning at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning in Nanjing University. One of her research interests is the everyday life of rural residents under rapid urbanization in China, around which topic she has published on Urban Studies, Cities, and Habitat International etc.

Ying Wang

Ying Wang is a Research Fellow at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. Her research has been concerned with the everyday process of social (dis)integration in urban and rural China. Her work has been published on International Journal of Urban and Regional Studies, Urban Geography and Habitat International etc.