Research On Poverty Elimination By Rural Tourism Based On Sustainable Livelihood Theory

Rural tourism has a significant impact on improving agricultural efficiency,lifting farmer income,driving rural prosperity,and changing farmer mindset,behavior and ways of rural production organisation.As such,pro-poor rural tourism was specified as one of top ten key projects for poverty alleviation in the “Opinions on Mechanism Innovation to Steadily Promote Rural Poverty Alleviation and Development” issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council.The objects of pro-poor tourism are specific farmers.But among domestic and international research on rural tourism development,the majority focuses on economy,planning,policy-making,and consumer behavior at the macro-level.Very few targets the specific family as research object.There also lacks relevant theories to guide practical development.Sustainable Livelihoods Approach(SLA)is a rural development theory becoming popular recently.The approach focuses on research of development objects livelihoods,is livelihoods outcome-oriented,and meanwhile emphasises the influence of vulnerability context and policies and institutions on livelihoods.It is a people-centred development theory which accents holism,dynamism,and sustainability.It gains increasing application in rural development.SLA offers a sound platform for pro-poor rural tourism research.But tourism is different from traditional livelihood strategy agriculture.Is SLA applicable and operational in rural tourism? Reviewing the literature,in-depth studies and expatiation were not found.This thesis reviews rural tourism,sustainable livelihoods,and other relevant theories.Under the guidance of sustainable livelihoods framework,a set of indicators was developed to apply to rural tourism.Indicators include the five key elements of SL,namely livelihood strategies,capitals,structure and institutions,vulnerability context,and outcomes,and are used to measure application of SL in rural tourism.The present research design is based on mixed qualitative and quantitative research methodology.Research method of case study was employed and data were collected through in-depth interview and questionnaire-based survey.This research took Chongdugou of Henan Province as a case study.Qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis whereas quantitative data through univariate analysis.Analysis was undertaken in correspondence with the five key elements of SL and synthesized discussion was provided.Results show that SLA can be applied to rural tourism study and can be used to guide and measure rural tourism.This thesis proposed suggestions and prospective in the end.