Locally situated rights and the ‘doing’ of responsibility for heritage conservation and tourism development at the cultural landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China

A study at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces reveals that local villagers, particularly ethnic minorities, bear the primary responsibility for conserving the cultural landscape through traditional agricultural and religious practices, yet they face significant inequities in accessing tourism benefits and compensation. The research highlights how state-led conservation approaches, focused on material heritage and technical methods, often disregard the roles and needs of local residents, reinforcing unequal power dynamics. Conducted through participant observations and semi-structured interviews, this work underscores the tension between local rights and responsibilities in heritage management, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and equitable practices to sustain these landscapes for future generations.

Gao, J., Lin, H., & Zhang, C. (2020). Locally situated rights and the ‘doing’ of responsibility for heritage conservation and tourism development at the cultural landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(2-3), 193–213. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1727912