Abstract
The COVID-19 has been relatively under control in some countries. Scholars believe that rural tourism might be the beginning of the recovery of the tourism industry due to several advantages, such as low flow density and superior ecological environment (Li et al., 2021). They can relatively ensure the safety of tourists while traveling (Zhu & Deng, 2020). In this context, the development of rural tourism is of strong research significance. In 2017, ICOMOS proposed that "all rural areas can be read as heritage" (ICOMOS, 2017). Both material and immaterial traditions which were handed down from the past and are inherited from the ancestor can be identified as heritage. It confirms that highlighting heritage preservation in the progress of rural planning is appropriate and reasonable. Furthermore, the development of cultural factors is the guarantee for the rise of rural tourism (Wang et al., 2005). Heritage conservation-oriented tourism development can inherit the local lifestyle and highlight the local cultural identity. In China, however, the agricultural heritage of some rural areas without outstanding features still has not been discovered. Although historical elements exist there without any official recognition, these elements should not be ignored during planning. This paper takes Tashuimo village as an example, which is situated in Henan, a province located in central China. It nearby the Shaolin Temple. Plenty of historical elements exist there, such as honeysuckle farms with a long-cultivated history, the old dwellings in the form of caves, and the background of advocating Buddhism. These elements should not be ignored during tourism development. The current government development model for this village is to encourage tourism development. In the current development plan, there is no in-depth exploration of the heritage elements that exist. However, it is known from the preliminary interviews that some villagers have deep feelings for their dwellings and honeysuckle fields. They hope that the development of tourism will not bring too much modification to their current lives. In the meantime, conservation and tourism development of agricultural heritage can substantially affect the community's livelihoods (Su et al., 2018). Hence, this paper aims to explore the heritage conservation-oriented tourism development and expected community livelihood models. Firstly, through face-to-face in-depth interviews with the village leader and villagers, this paper will discuss the current tourism participation among village residents and the distribution of benefits. A livelihood framework will be drawn for guiding the analysis. Problems and challenges that have emerged will be collected. Secondly, the government, the village leader, the public, and villagers’ attitudes towards local agricultural heritage and willingness to safeguard the heritage will be summarized. Finally, the positive impact of preserving agricultural heritage on livelihood patterns will be explored and discussed. A new livelihood framework will be scheduled. 1. ICOMOS (2017). ICOMOS-IFLA Principles concerning Rural Landscapes as Heritage. 2. Li, Z., Zhang, X., Yang, K., Singer, R., & Cui, R. (2021). Urban and rural tourism under COVID-19 in China: research on the recovery measures and tourism development. Tourism Review. 3. Su, M., Sun, Y., Min, Q., & Jiao, W. (2018). A community livelihood approach to agricultural heritage system conservation and tourism development: Xuanhua Grape Garden urban agricultural heritage site, Hebei Province of China. Sustainability, 10(2), 361. 4. Wang, Y, Xu, C, Guo, H. (2005). Discussions on the New Trends of Rural Tourism Development in China. Arid Land Geography, 28(6), 864. 5. Zhu, H., & Deng, F. (2020). How to influence rural tourism intention by risk knowledge during COVID-19 Containment in China: mediating role of risk perception and attitude. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(10), 3514.
