Cultural Internal Gaze and Cultural Symbol Alienation in Chinese Minority Cultural Tourism: A Case Study of the Yi Culture in Chuxiong

Abstract

Ethnic minority cultural tourism in China plays an important role in economic development and cultural preservation and has become a common choice for economic and cultural development in minority regions. However, these regions do not possess entirely homogeneous ethnic and cultural backgrounds, so the cultural connections within local communities also deserve attention. Researchers collected samples in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, including 641 participants (535 registered residents of Chuxiong and 106 tourists). They used the Yi Cultural Symbol Identification Scale to measure cultural identity among different groups and supplemented other variables with four focus groups comprising 54 participants. Through the analysis of survey data and on-site observations, the study explored why cultural tourism has not ideally protected and transmitted the Yi ethnic culture in Chuxiong.

The research result revealed that individuals from diverse identity backgrounds hold varying understandings of the same ethnic culture, which can significantly impact cultural heritage and tourism experiences. The interaction between cultural internal gaze and symbol alienation intensifies cultural differences and conflicts, impacting the interaction and understanding among local residents from different backgrounds and affecting the quality and sustainability of ethnic cultural tourism. To meet the needs of modern consumers, cultural heritage institutions should innovate by using new perspectives and expressions to create unique cultural symbol systems with complex cultural logic, which can help the development and revitalization of ethnic culture, regional culture, and historical heritage.