The Problem of ‘Guanxi’ for Actualizing Community Tourism: A Case Study of Relationship Networking in China

Abstract

Past studies have listed a series of barriers to actualizing the concept of community tourism in developing countries. This paper continues to explore such barriers in the context of China from the neglected yet important perspective of guanxi (literarily meaning 'personal relationship networking') by analysing how guanxi has become a major problem for actualizing the principles of community tourism in China. Focusing on a single-clan village in China's Anhui Province, the study examines how the incidence of guanxi stands as a stumbling block to the community residents' participation in the tourism development process. The examination indicates that such 'guanxi barriers' can manifest in two major forms: 'family guanxi' and 'business guanxi'. Together they create a 'circle of guanxi elites', in which equitable and active participation in the tourism development process, by all the community residents, is difficult to achieve.

Sense of Community, Neighboring, and Social Capital as Predictors of Local Political Participation in China

“…In terms of community social participation, the social capital obtained by individuals in rural China predicts their participation in community health programs (Zhang et al 2006); however, social ties or individual networking also became a barrier for equitable and active participation in a rural community tourism development (Li et al 2007). As to community political participation, on the one hand, examinations of Rural Villagers' Committee elections show that social capital (both social trust and network) does not help increase participation rates (Sun et al 2007).…”

Challenges facing community-based cultural tourism development at Lekhubu Island, Botswana: a comparative analysis

“…Community-based tourism Owing to the tourism industry's known failures in relation to addressing the needs and aspirations of local communities, various remedial measures have been proposed in order to assist the industry to respond positively to interests of local communities (Li, Lai, & Feng, 2007). Among some of the different approaches advanced is community-based tourism (CBT).…”

Tourism development and the disempowerment of host residents: types and formative mechanisms

“…Related studies also support this empirical study. Li, Lai, and Feng analyzed how interpersonal relationships form important obstacles to participation in community tourism in China (Li, Lai, & Feng, 2007). These types of relationships include familial relationships and business relationships, which are intertwined to form an elite circle to secure various policy outcomes and various types of benefits.…”