Authenticity in ethnic tourism: domestic tourists' perspectives

Authenticity is an important concept in ethnic tourism studies as well as a critical issue in tourism practice. This article examines tourists' perceptions and their assessments of ethnic attractions and products, and the levels of satisfaction with their experiences based upon empirical research conducted in 2006 in a well-known tourism destination in China – Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. Of the 600 tourists surveyed, 565 were domestic and 35 international. The majority of Chinese tourists enjoy staged events and are mainly in search of enjoyment and relaxation on their visits. On the other hand, authenticity is a major concern among international tourists. Cultural commodification is, to some extent, acceptable for tourists but over-commercialized cultural shows cause discontent among visitors and devalue local traditions. It is concluded that diverse and high quality ethnic products should be developed to suit both domestic and international markets. Especially, minority-made products and community-based businesses should be facilitated in order to give tourists an authentic experience and improve the economic gains for local communities.