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Key words: Axia relationships, matrilineal families, Lugu Lake, tourism development
SUMMARY
The ethnic communities of Lugu Lake have experienced the rapid development of tourism because of the attractions of their culture and traditional customs as well as dieir beautiful environment. Tourism and other economic activities have a variety of socio-cultural effects on host communities. Based on a survey of 105 Mosuo families, statistic correlation analysis was used to examine the local people's viewpoints regarding marriage, language, traditional dress, diet, and factors which could lead to changes in people's opinions. The results show that although Mosuo people are more open to the outside world, Axia relationships and matrilineal families still dominate their life. More than 50% of interviewees have Axia relationships and live in matrilinear families. Tourism income, education and age are three important factors that impact on local people's viewpoints regarding their culture and life. People who are more educated and earn more money from tourism prefer traditional culture and customs. The younger generation is more likely to be affected by tourism because they have contact with the outside world more often in their everyday life. Further research is needed on how to protect the local culture from the boom in tourism, as well as how to minimise its influence on local residents.
INTRODUCTION
The impacts of tourism have been extensively studied by researchers in a variety of disciplines, from anthropology to geography, and economics to sociology. Many researchers found that tourism has both positive and negative impacts on local residents, involving economic, cultural, social and environmental effects. The finding that there is a relatively strong and favourable perception towards tourism is not particularly surprising in that tourism plays an important role in facilitating cultural exchanges and creating opportunities to leam about other people and cultures (Ekerm 1998). Early research on the impacts of tourism focused on the positive economic effects (Pizam 1978). In recent years, researchers noticed that tourism was also linked with changes in community life and the socio-culture. Geertz (1999) stated that 'Anthropologists need to understand what caused the culture change and how it happened.' Therefore, researchers have emphased this aspect in order to understand the attitudes and perceptions of tourism among rural residents as well as the socio-cultural effects of...