Residents’ perceptions of tourism and Chinese central policies: the case of Anhui’s UNESCO sites

Residents of UNESCO-listed villages in Anhui, China—Xidi and Hongcun—show shifting perceptions of tourism, increasingly attributing its impacts to central government policies. A decade-long study combining long-term observation, temporary residency, and surveys of 478 villagers reveals a nuanced relationship between local communities and tourism development. Unlike Nanping, which followed different administrative procedures, Xidi and Hongcun’s experiences highlight the tension between pro-poor tourism goals and community participation in China's rural heritage conservation. These findings suggest that residents' evolving attitudes could influence both tourist experiences and the sustainability of emerging rural destinations.

Jing, S. (., Li, P., Ryan, C., Wong, C. U. I., & Tumanan, M. A. R. (2024). Residents’ perceptions of tourism and Chinese central policies: the case of Anhui’s UNESCO sites. Tourism Critiques: Practice and Theory, 5(2), 205–227. https://doi.org/10.1108/trc-12-2023-0032