Minority Communities Involved In Tourism Empowerment Path

Community Participation Theory has undergone the process of"absence to distinction", and thus become the key factor of the sustainable development of tourism. However, theoretical and empirical research has found that community participation is a symbolic majority, to achieve community involvement also depends upon the control. Thus, an analysis of power relations applying to community participation in tourism development was made by western scholars. They argued that community empowerment is an important prerequisite to sustainable development in destinations. The domestic scholars introduced the Tourism Empowerment Theory to China, and they hold the view that this new theory is bound to produce profound influence on future tourism practices in China. But there are still several fundamental issues not yet to be confirmed in this field: Is western tourism empowerment theory suitable for China? What are the contextual differences between China and West empowerment theories? What is the content and type of power in community empowerment? What is the process to carry out legal community empowerment?Considering these questions, this thesis from the perspective of power, takes the empowerment theory, property rights theory and the stakeholder theory as the theoretical foundation. Using the literature research method, interdisciplinary study method, combining theoretical and practical studies method and other research methods, this thesis focuses on the minority community. Comparing the differences between China and western theoretical background, this thesis attempts to build the theoretical framework of community empowerment as well as the ways in which minority communities can empower themselves by participation in tourism development. This will help to build the analytical framework and practical models of applying empowerment theory into Chinese tourism practices, as well as the socio-economic development of minority areas.Firstly, after introducing and analyzing the theory of empowerment in western countries and the study results in this field and discussing the concept and content of tourism empowerment, the paper argues that tourism empowerment theory will definitely have an important impact on tourism development in China. Combined with the background of special transition period of China's socio-economic development, the paper illustrates the important role of the land property system in the localization of empowerment theory in China's tourism development.Secondly, under the current system of property rights, this thesis analyses the state of, the power of community residents to participate in the tourism development and the power relations between stakeholders. After making know the arrangement of China's system of property rights, the thesis holds the view that the land owner's"absence", caused by the system, will have adverse effects on the rights of community participation in tourism development. Depending on the identification of the main stakeholders in ethnic tourism destinations, the thesis analyses the imbalanced state of power relations between the community, the tourism developers and the local governments. It is found that the communities in a state of"powerlessness".Thirdly, carrying out the empirical research of the state of the power of community residents to participate in the tourism development. Selected as a case study in Xishuangbanna Dai park, the thesis analyses the status of the villagers involved in tourism development, and the benefits distribution of Dai park and the historical process; examines the effects of the property arrangements on the rights of villagers to participate in the development of tourism; assesses the current state of local villagers participation in tourism development from decision-making, benefits distribution as well as other angles. Summed up the powerlessness of the community residents when it comes to benefits conflicts, and further points out the need for community empowerment.Lastly, identifying the types of power in tourism empowerment and building the tourism empowerment path for minority communities. After identifying the empowerment receptor, the subject and the types of power, the thesis puts forward the viewpoint that personal empowerment should be prior to community empowerment, then points out that we need to expand empowerment to"personal right". The path to empowerment can be achieved in many ways, such as economic empowerment, social empowerment, psychological empowerment and political empowerment. Psychological empowerment and social empowerment can be achieved mainly through the supply of information as well as education and training. Economic empowerment and political empowerment will have to rely on the advancing of the national political system. There are many ways to constitute the path to community empowerment.The conclusions contains four main aspects: institutional arrangements of property rights to determine the specific process of localization of empowerment; the balance of power between the stakeholders become an important factor in sustainable tourism development; personal empowerment should be prior to community empowerment and the need to expand empowerment to"personal right".