ABSTRACT
Ethnic tourism is a unique form of travel motivated by visitors’ search for exotic cultural experiences through interaction with distinctive ethnic groups (Yang, Wall & Smith, 2008). Such tourism typically includes visiting minority villages, ethnic theme parks and homes, being involved in ethnic events and festivals, watching dances or ceremonies, or merely shopping for ethnic handicrafts and souvenirs. It provides tourists with opportunities to experience a unique place, landscape, and ways of life that are different from their own. In recent years, ethnic tourism has developed at a considerable pace worldwide. It has been promoted and widely adopted as a strategy for economic development and cultural preservation in many countries. Such tourism development has significant impacts on rural ethnic communities where the opportunity for development is limited (Yang & Wall, 2009). It has the potential to bring economic and social benefits to host communities (Adams, 1997; Boissevain, 1996; Grunewald, 2002; Smith, 1989, 2001; Wall & Xie, 2005). However, it can also adversely impact the culture, way of life and sense of identity of ethnic groups (Cohen, 1987; Greenwood, 1989; Oakes, 1998; Selwyn, 1996; Wood, 1997).
