An Eco-criticism On The Tourist Symbolization In China

In the rapid development of China’s tourist industry, there is an anti-culturalphenomenon of “tourist symbolization”, which is particularly evident and obvious inthe folk cultural scenic spots of ethnic groups.In view of the negative and adverse impacts of the tourist symbolization on theenvironmental, ecological and local cultural protection, this study conducts aneco-critical analysis of China’s tourist industry based on the theory of EcologicalEthics by conducting a case study on the Fenghuang ancient town.Through a systematic study, this research finds that the tourist symbolization hasadverse impacts on tourists’ ecological concept of nature and culture and the localtourist development in the long run; the non-ecological idea of narrowanthropocentrism and abnormal consumption concept of tourists are embodied in thetourist symbolization; the social causes of tourist symbolization are mainly thecommercial economy and the mass tourism and scenic planners, local residents andtourists themselves also contribute to the tourist symbolization. With these abovefindings, this writing proposes some necessary solutions to the current touristsymbolization:1) scenic planners and local residents should try every efforts tomaintain the originality of the local cultural symbols and guarantee to present realsymbol system;2) tourists themselves should keep a clear mind and learn to tell realsymbols from faked ones, only in this way can they conduct a right interpretation ofsymbols and get a high-quality tourist experience;3) tourists should learn to enrichthe existing symbol system and the tourist culture through symbolized tourism.This study, theoretically speaking, enlarges the academic vision of tourist symbol.Concerning its practical values, it helps to raise people’s awareness of natural andcultural ecological protection, keep tourists from being misled by touristsymbolization as well as direct the tourist industry to move towards a healthydevelopment.