A Study of Traditional Village ReA Study of Traditional Village Residents’ Attitudes toward Develosidents’ Attitudes toward Develo

ping as a ping as a Bed & Breakfast Village: Bed & Breakfast Village:

The Case of Shuitou Village in KinmenThe Case of Shuitou Village in Kinmen

Chin-Yu ChenChin-Yu Chen

Kinmen, R.O.C.Kinmen, R.O.C.

Nov. 4, 2004Nov. 4, 2004

• Introduction• Research Purpose and Problems• Research Method• Introduction of Shuitou Village• Bed & Breakfast (B&B)• Study Results• Conclusions and Discussion• Suggestions• Future Study Suggestions

Introduction• A war battleground since1949.

• The military rule was abolished in Nov.1992

• The tourism industry has become a major economic activity.

• Kinmen National Park (K.N.P.) was established in 1995 for preserving the abundance of natural and ecological resources, traditional archeology, historical war relics, etc.

Study Purpose & Problems

• K.N.P. provides free renovation of private traditional houses for sustainable use in exchange for 30 years of property using rights.

• The B&B operation is one of those considered ways of reusing these renovated old traditional structures by K.N.P.

• Shuitou Village residences attitudes toward developing as a B&B village.

Research Method• This is an exploratory research.• The study used a literature review and an in-dept

h interview method through face-to-face or telephone conversations.

• The interviewee sampling method was convenience sampling.

• A sample size of 10~12 people might be appropriate for a qualitative research project (Kwortnki, 2003).

Introduction of Shuitou Village

• There are 12 well-kept traditional villages in Kinmen under the maintenance of K.N.P. (Oct. 2003).

• In the southwest of Kinmen.• Shuitou is a culturally rich and diversified village.• It has the cultural combination of traditional Fujian st

yle houses and those of western style.• Many scenic sites, Deyue Tower & western style hous

es, Jinshuei Elementary School, Huang Family Youtan villa, Stories of the Overseas Chinese, and Overseas Chinese Hometown Cultural Exhibition Hall, etc..

Bed & Breakfast (B&Bs)

• An establishment, usually a private home, providing overnight accommodation and breakfast to members of the public (Lynch, 1994).

• Staying overnight at a B&B has become a part of traveling experience.

• The B&B Management Rules was promulgated in Dec. 2001.

• Only six legal B&Bs in Kinmen.

Study Results (1)

• Five males & five females.

• The age range: 40~70 years old

• People left are elders, unemployed homemakers, or children.

• Senior high school or lower education levels.

• All of them owned the traditional architecture.

• Two have experiences of visiting B&Bs.

Study Results (2)

• Only one interviewee disagree of becoming a B&B village.

• One said “no opinion”, but mentioned many negative effects.

Study Results (3)

• Positive opinions :

1. Working opportunities

2. Economic benefits

3. Increase tourism attraction

4. Enhance infrastructure & superstructure

5. Better preserve & reuse traditional houses

6. Sustainable development of the community

7. Successfully promote local history & cultur

Study Results (4)

• Negative opinions :

1. Security problems

2. Impact the cleanness of the community

3. More pollution & noise

4. Affect residents’ privacy

5. Preservation of valuable relics & sculptures

6. Theft problems

Study Results (5)• Suggestions from interviewees:

1.The working opportunities should be kept for local residents. 2.Take advantages of each house’s characteristics, ex. clan exhibition houses. 3.Establishing a culture & history studio for promotion and creating more successful for characteristics B&Bs. 4.B&Bs should be operated by community organization. 5.The infrastructure and outside living environment should be improved.

Conclusion & Discussions

• B&Bs are not only providing overnight accommodations, but also providing ecological or cultural learning experiences.

• Shuitou Village has abundant architectural & historical resources.

• Young villagers or with higher educations always leave of Shuitou for better working opportunities.

• B&Bs operation create working opportunities and economic benefits.

• Maintain and promote local history & culture

Suggestions

• Local residents should have the first priority.• An effective communication and good cooperation

with local residents could ensure the sustainable use of those houses.

• Integrating the concept of “community development” for sustainable development of both the community and tourism in Kinmen.

• Providing some training programs. • The government should improve the infrastructure

of the village for better physical environment.

Future Study Suggestions

• Focus on the attitudes & awareness of operating B&B villages and its impacts.

• More empirical investigations involving more residents.

• Visitors’ characteristics and demands for accommodation in a B&B village for future development and implementation of B&B villages.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for assistances from Mr. Su.,

the Chief of Department of Planning & Management, K.N.P

and pictures from Arz495, NKIT.

The End.