Author: Huanling Huang
Huang, Huanling, 2019 The impacts of growing tourism on local communities: A case study of historical sites in Panyu, China, Flinders University, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
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This study has identified the positive and negative impacts caused by tourism development on local communities situated in close proximity to cultural heritage sites in Panyu, Southern China. The study observed the perceptions and attitudes of local communities towards tourism growth through implementation of a qualitative methodology that employed semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that the positive impacts of tourism development on local communities frequently outweighed the negative impacts and included social exchange benefits, a heightened awareness of the importance of maintaining local traditions, and the further entrenchment of a stronger sense of community pride. However, whilst most local residents held supportive attitudes towards tourism development, some respondents suggested that certain negative impacts could eventually lead to the local community’s opposition to tourism in the future. This was especially the case when congestion and urban environment degradation were identified as core issues. To conclude, this report will emphasize the key benefits of the study in terms of addressing several research gaps and provide recommendations for further research.
Keywords: cultural heritage tourism, tourism development, tourism impacts, local community, China
Subject: Tourism thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2019
School: College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Supervisor: Dr Gareth Butler