Tourism the Chinese way: Impacts on ethnic minority Bailivelihoods in Dali, China

Around the world, tourism is having important and often drastic effects on the environment, minority cultures and livelihoods. This study focuses on the impacts that tourism is having on the culture and livelihoods of an ethnic minority group in southwest China—the Bai, whose population was 1.9 million in 2010. I will complete fieldwork in Dali, China, the ‘homeland’ of Bai people and culture. I will focus on three research questions, which I will answer while drawing on qualitative research methods. Briefly: 1) how is tourism organized in Dali? 2) How is Bai ethnicity drawn upon to develop a certain type of tourism to attract tourists? And 3) what are the impacts of tourism on Bai cultures, lives and livelihoods? My research project will examine changes in Bai culture and livelihoods brought about by recent trends of tourism development, and provide insight into ethnic and tourism policy making – both now and how these might be possibly improved for the future.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sarah Turner

Student:

Partner:

Yunnan University of Nationalities

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

McGill University

Program: