A Literature Review on the Mechanisms of Cultural Tourism Value Transformation of Li Ethnic Dance in Hainan

Background and Aims: With the deep integration of culture and tourism becoming a prominent trend in global cultural industries, the value transformation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has attracted increasing scholarly attention. Compared with craft-based heritage, dance-related ICH is more experience-oriented and relies heavily on visitor participation and embodied engagement. Existing studies on ethnic dance and cultural tourism, however, remain fragmented and lack a systematic understanding of the mechanisms through which cultural resources are transformed into tourism value. Focusing on Li ethnic dance in Hainan within an island destination and community-embedded performance ecology, this study synthesizes the literature and clarifies the underlying value-transformation mechanism. Methodology: This study adopts a literature review approach, drawing on Chinese and international academic databases, including CNKI, Web of Science, and Scopus. Relevant studies on intangible cultural heritage dance, cultural tourism, experiential value, and value co-creation were systematically screened and thematically analyzed to identify major research trajectories, core concepts, and theoretical linkages. Results: The review indicates that cultural tourism value transformation of intangible heritage dance converges on a three-layer mechanism: cultural elements, experiential mechanisms, and behavioral outcomes. Cultural authenticity and creative interpretation constitute the foundational cultural elements; multidimensional experiential value—comprising educational, aesthetic, emotional, and immersive experiences—functions as the key mediating mechanism; and visitor satisfaction and loyalty behaviors represent the primary outcomes of value transformation. Despite differences in research focus, existing studies show substantial convergence within this integrative framework. Conclusion: By synthesizing dispersed research findings, this study proposes an integrative conceptual framework for understanding the cultural tourism value transformation of Li ethnic dance in Hainan. While the three-layer mechanism provides a transferable analytic lens for ICH dance tourism, this review highlights its application to the Li cultural context and offers a structured reference for future empirical studies and practice in heritage-based cultural tourism.