Author Bios (50 Words for each Author)

Yingsha Zhang, Ph.D. (yingsha.zhang@waikato.ac.nz), is a senior lecturer at the Waikato Management School, The University of Waikato. Yingsha’s research mainly focuses on destination marketing and management, consumer behavior and decision making, and research method with special emphasis on theme parks, tourism geography, and big data analysis.

Abstract (150 Words)

This study uses several theories to explain the daily social relationship among various groups of actors residing in a tourism destination. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, surveys, non-participant observation, and secondary documents. The study investigates the social relationships between residents and tourists, within and between locals and migrants, and within and between tourism and non-tourism practitioners. Results reveal that each group has its own communication circles, where communication happens mainly within the same group based on residents’ original social networks and only partly between different groups due to new business-related social networks. Inner-group communications and different degrees of inter-group isolation exist among the resident groups. The causes were discussed. The findings are significant for the sustainability of a tourism ancient town.

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Residents’ Social Relationships in Everyday Life in a Tourism Ancient Town

This study uses several theories to explain the daily social relationship among various groups of actors residing in a tourism destination. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, surveys, non-participant observation, and secondary documents. The study investigates the social relationships between residents and tourists, within and between locals and migrants, and within and between tourism and non-tourism practitioners. Results reveal that each group has its own communication circles, where communication happens mainly within the same group based on residents’ original social networks and only partly between different groups due to new business-related social networks. Inner-group communications and different degrees of inter-group isolation exist among the resident groups. The causes were discussed. The findings are significant for the sustainability of a tourism ancient town.