Livelihood transformation from fishing to tourism: an adaptive sustainable livelihood framework for understanding lakeside communities of China

doi:10.15302/J-FASE-2024560

2024, Vol. 11

Issue (4) : 589-601 https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2024560

Livelihood transformation from fishing to tourism: an adaptive sustainable livelihood framework for understanding lakeside communities of China

Feng BA, Xiaoyun LI(

), Yue DING, Lixia TANG

College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China

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Abstract

Fisheries in coastal and lakeside regions are increasingly facing sustainability challenges. This predicament has compelled these regions to shift toward economic diversification, with tourism emerging as a feasible alternative economic activity. This study focuses on a rural community adjacent to Erhai Lake in Dali City, Yunnan Province, China, examining its shift from a fishing-based economy to tourism over several decades. Employing an adaptive sustainable livelihood framework, this study assessed the livelihood transformation across various stages over an extended period, from both institutional and action-oriented perspectives, analyzing factors influencing sustainable livelihood transformation in lakeside communities and their subsequent effects. This research revealed several key insights. Firstly, tourism, as an alternative industry to fishing, not only faces increasingly stringent environmental protection policies but also confronts multiple challenges from the community level. Secondly, the improvement of the physical assets of locals within the tourism development, which can increase property-based income, has the potential to facilitate a sustainable transformation of their livelihoods. Thirdly, analysis identifies the pivotal role of human capital in the current transition process, with the influence of talent and innovative livelihood industry management models gaining prominence to ensure sustainability of this transformation.

Keywords Lakeside community livelihood trans- formation fisheries tourism China

Corresponding Author(s): Xiaoyun LI

Just Accepted Date: 28 April 2024 Online First Date: 17 May 2024 Issue Date: 12 November 2024

Cite this article:

Feng BA,Xiaoyun LI,Yue DING, et al. Livelihood transformation from fishing to tourism: an adaptive sustainable livelihood framework for understanding lakeside communities of China[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2024, 11(4): 589-601.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2024560
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y2024/V11/I4/589

Fig.1 Research framework. Adapted from Natarajan et al.^[¹⁷^] under Creative Commons.

Fig.2 Diagram of Gusheng Village livelihood, landscape, and architectural planning. Reproduced from the forestry and grass resources map issued by the China National Forestry and Grassland Administration^[²⁶^] under Creative Commons.

Tab.1 Summary details of the interviewees undertaken during the research

Tab.2 Old houses, ancient courtyards, and abandoned houses in Gusheng Village

Tab.3 Returnee population from 2019 to 2022

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