Tourism potential of Ukraine in the context of geography and current state of German cultural heritage

The article describes theoretical foundations of the study of tourism potential of the regions of Ukraine in the context of geography and current state of German cultural heritage. The historical preconditions for the formation and development of cultural heritage of German ethnic minority on the territory of the modern Ukraine are studied. Geography of German ethnic minority of the early XX century within the modern territory of Ukraine and geography of ethnic Germans and German cultural heritage in the modern Ukraine are developed. On the basis of a cluster analysis of indicators of the number of preserved objects and the number of former German settlements, groups of regions with high, medium and low potential for the development of ethnic tourism are identified. Odesa, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv and Zhytomyr are the leaders by the number of objects of German cultural heritage among all regions of Ukraine. The group of regions with a medium level of potential for ethnic tourism includes the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Volyn, Kherson, Ivano-Frankivsk, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Chernivtsi, and Khmelnytskyi regions. Seven main types of preserved objects of German cultural heritage in Ukraine are identified. Sacred objects and public buildings and structures are best represented. The objects of German cultural heritage preserved to this day in the context of the regions of Ukraine are described. It was found that the main obstacles to the development of German ethnic tourism in Ukraine are the destruction of many cultural heritage objects, lack of funding for restoration of these objects, insufficient involvement of objects to tourist routes and low level of their promotion. The main ways to overcome these obstacles are identified: allocation of budget funds for the restoration of objects, attracting private investors, international organizations and German community; development of new tourist routes; marking places with information stands, publishing information materials about objects; digitalization of objects; organization of international conferences, round tables, festivals, etc.

Environment Change and Sustainable Livelihoods in Ethnic Villages Tourism Development of China

The rapid development of ethnic tourism in China has led to changes in the social and economic environment and local livelihood strategies. This study aims to illustrate the environmental changes and the effects of livelihood strategies in ethnic tourism development. Based on the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA), this study proposed the Sustainable Tourism Livelihood Framework (STLF) and designed the indicator system. The Jinglai ethnic tourism village case study showed the changing process and comparison of livelihood capitals with different livelihood strategies. The study found that the number of Tourism-based Strategies (TBS)and Tourism Strategies (TS) families increases, and the TS livelihood capital is the highest, and the Highly Participation Degree (HPD) family’s capital is also higher. Meanwhile, family members have intergenerational differences in livelihood strategies. Finally, the suggestions about tourism community governance, such as environmental governance, knowledge training, and sustainable assessment, were proposed.

Organizational Communications in Developing Ethnic Tourism: Participatory Approaches in Southwest China

Ethnic tourism promises to solve rural development challenges, create employment, and preserve indigenous heritages. However, the development process is not always empowering. Often-cited problems are organizational communication challenges and conflicts that characterize partnerships among ethnic minority villages, tourism management companies, and government agencies. Such communication difficulties characterize ethnic tourism development processes in many parts of China. This article reports on a case study conducted in the famous Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village (Xijiang Quianhu Miaozhai), Guizhou, China. Specifically, we investigate the determinants and nature of common organizational communication problems experienced by ethnic communities in the process of tourism development. Survey and interview data indicate that changes in local governance, clashes in tourism management, and a lack of agreement on the meaning of "community participation" created organizational communication problems manifested in conflicts among tourism managers and villagers, administrative districts/villages, and groups within the villages. Drawing from development communication and organizational communication literature, the authors assess the possibilities of applying participatory communication as a strategic approach to conflict resolution. On the basis of critical analysis, the authors offer four recommendations for adapting the participatory approach to address organizational communication problems in ethnic tourism development sites: (1) value participation, (2) develop clear understanding of what empowering participatory communication entails, (3) integrate the indigenous mode of communication/participation, and (4) hybridize the participatory communication approach to accommodate the conditions and limitations that prevail in the specific context.

Ethnic Tourism From a Psychological Perspective

In the article ethnic tourism is presented as a dynamic, multi-generational, social phenomenon undergoing transformation along with changes in the surrounding reality. Emotional threads of the journey to the „old homeland” were emphasized, however, the increasingly stronger cognitive aspects in the journeys of the generations born and raised abroad to the country of their parents or grandparents were indicated.

An Integrated Development Model of TIE for Ethnic Towns in China: The Case of Pengshui

Ethnic towns in China are always special and important. Their rich natural and cultural resources and relatively poor conditions make their development different. This research constructs an integrated development model of town-industry-education (TIE) for ethnic towns in China. The case of Pengshui is presented to illustrate the details of this model. Chiyou Jiuli town, ethnic tourism industry, and Chongqing Vocational Institute of Tourism formed an integration of TIE in their development. Some closely related elements form the basis of their integration and some similar driving forces motivate the formation of their integration. Through the operating platform of Jiuli Ordered Class, their integration could benefit all the participants and contribute to local economic and social development. This model helps to make use of local resources and improve local development levels. Considering the rapid development of society, further studies are needed to apply this model to more regions and include various institutions.