Unravelling the Policy Outcomes of Sustainable Tourism
Driving Poverty Eradication and Economic Empowerment for the Bai Ethnic Minority in Yunnan, China
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22006502 |
|---|---|
| Authors | M Zakiul Islam (0000-0003-0838-0725, Guangdong University Of Finances and Economics), Yumei Cheng (0009-0003-2062-6799, Wuhan Business University, corresponding author), Quan Ke (South China University of Technology) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | SAGE Open (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/21582440261419360 |
| OpenAlex | W7128769595 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 51 |
This study examines China’s policy initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation and job creation for the Bai ethnic minority in Yunnan Province, focussing on sustainable tourism promotion. Findings reveal that nearly one-third of ethnic minorities faced economic hardship between 2000 and 2002. However, targeted policies have since improved rural poverty rates; poverty in Yunnan decreased from 14.03% in 2015 to 5.39% in 2018, with 1.51 million people overcoming poverty. Our study reveals that despite this progress, many ethnic minorities like the Bai still face poverty due to limited income and employment opportunities. We observe that employment in rural areas remains notably lower than in urban centres, especially among ethnic minority groups such as the Bai. Our research identifies the absence of decent work opportunities as a primary factor perpetuating poverty in Yunnan’s Dali and Lijiang. We find that rural development policies prioritise industrial growth (75.2%), while cultural (52.8%), ecological (61.5%), and livelihood (62.5%) factors lag. Through rigorous policy analysis and case study analysis, informed by one-to-one communication with participants, we explore the role of sustainable tourism in enhancing the livelihoods of the marginalised Bai ethnic minority, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 8
China · Empowerment · Ethnic group · Livelihood · Poverty · Rural poverty · Sustainable development · Tourism · China's Ethnic Minorities and Relations · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research
Assessing progress towards sustainable development over space and time
From poverty to prosperity
Does rural tourism reduce relative poverty? Evidence from household surveys in western China
The Improvement of Women’s Entrepreneurial Competence in Rural Tourism
Power in community-based tourism
Collaborations between Older Women of Chinese Ethnic Minority and Fashion Designers
Unequal by structure
Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030
Assisting the poor in China through tourism development
Eliminating poverty through development
Fertility transition of Han and ethnic minorities in China
Community support for tourism in China’s Dong ethnic villages
Pro-poorness of rural economic growth and the roles of education in Bhutan, 2007–2017
Tourism poverty alleviation hotspots in China
Ecotourism and the empowerment of local communities
Revitalizing traditional villages through rural tourism
The impact of tourism on income inequality in developing economies
Educational & income disparities among ethnic minorities of China
Top-down education policy on the inclusion of ethnic minority population in China
Tourism development, rights consciousness and the empowerment of Chinese historical village communities
Ethnic tourism in China
Achievements, experiences and challenges of the battle against poverty in China's ethnic minority areas
Research on anti-poverty efforts in China's ethnic minority areas since the 1970s
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |