Understanding tourism development of historic districts from a representational perspective |
| |
Authors: | Suyan Shen Jin Zhao Jian Xu Jianying Guo Lina Shi |
| |
Institution: | 1. Tourism Management Department, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, 210037 Nanjing, People's Republic of China;2. Nanjing College of Information Technology, Wenlan Road 99, Xianlin University Zone, 210046 Nanjing, People's Republic of China |
| |
Abstract: | This study investigated the tourism development of historic districts in Old South Downtown of Nanjing (China) from a representational perspective. Twenty-six residents, who are living or had lived within the four main historic districts of Old South Downtown area, were interviewed using snowball sampling. All written notes and audio records collected during the interviews were transcribed and coded by themes in the framework of social representation theory. The findings indicated that tourism development, as an unfamiliar phenomenon, was generally considered as negative impacts in the beginning (e.g. deprivation of residents’ homes and loss of traditional culture), especially by residents living within the districts for decades. Thereafter, tourism development in historic districts experienced an anchoring and objectification process. Anchoring is reflected in images of construction, reconstruction and demolition. In the objectifying process, struggling for individual's rights is obviously observed. Finally, propaganda conducted by mainstream media has helped residents of historic districts to form common sense and foster social identity. Problems of tourism development in historic districts were discussed as well. |
| |
Keywords: | tourism development historic districts social representation theory coping China |
|
|