On The Tourism Development And Protection Of The Intangible Handicraftsmanship In Sichuan

In August 2008, China officially acceded to Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. During the past few years, the research on safeguarding and developing intangible cultural heritage has raised national awareness gradually. In April, 2005, the State Council issued Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Strengthening the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China, which stresses the importance of intangible cultural heritages. Sichuan Province is aboundant in intangible cultural heritages, in which traditional handicraftsmanship enjoys great value. The existing traditional handicraftsmanship in Sichuan enbodies wisdom originated in certain social environment, reflects cultural diversity and acts as a corner-stone to a developed society. However, at present, traditional craftsmanship is facing threats of deterioration and extinction. On one hand, due to the lack of market needs, the craft factories are at the risk of bankrupcy. On the other hand, craftsmanship is in danger of getting lost, for there are no successors to transmit craftsmanship from generation to generation. Under these circumstances, the issue on how to coordinate the protection and tourism development needs our attention and studies.Hence, in the light of relative information of safeguarding and developing intangible cultural heritages both at home and abroad, this thesis focuses on the current safeguarding status and existing problem of craftsmanship heritages. In addition, by comprehensively applying the theories of tourism economics, tourism culture and tourism sustainable development, the thesis discusses tourism development of craftsmanship heritages.This thesis consists of four main parts as follows:Chapter One is a brief introduction to the theme, current research results both from home and abroad, the research background and the structure of the thesis.Chapter Two provides a general summary of intangible cultural heritages. Its first section classifies the concepts, characteristics, types of intangible cultural heritage. The second section is to identify traditional handicraftsmanship.Chapter Three discusses the tourism development of craftsmanship heritages in Sichuan Province. Firstly, according to the List of First National Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Safeguarding, it describes the current status of such heritage on the List in Sichuan Province. Secondly, considering the current situation, with regard to relative theories, the thesis puts forward corresponding tourism development hypotheses.Chapter Four discusses the protection of craftsmanship heritages in Sichuan Province. By analyzing the present situation and applying the protection principles, this chapter tries to explore the specific measures.The last chapter summarizes the thesis by pointing out puts that we should handle correctly the relationships between tourism development and the protection of the intangible handicraftsmanship in Sichuan as well as offering some solutions to and further thoughts on relevant problems which exist today.