THE IMPACT OF RURAL TOURISM ON FARMERS' SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS: A CASE STUDY OF CHANGSHAN VILLAGE IN THE YIMENG MOUNTAIN AREA OF CHINA

This paper analyzes the impact of rural tourism on the sustainable livelihood of farmers in Changshan Village in Yimeng Mountain Area using the sustainable livelihood analysis frameworks (SLA). It has been found that the total asset value of livelihood capital in farmer households has increased, with human capital seeing no obvious change, natural capital decreasing. financial capital and social capital increasing slightly, and physical capital increasing significantly. All of this indicates that tourism has a significant impact on the livelihood capital of farmer households. With the development of rural tourism, the livelihood strategy of farmer households -- based on agricultural production and migrated -work -- has changed to a "tourism " multiple business model comprising a variety of livelihood modes. These include tourism -oriented, tourism-oriented part-time, migrated -work -oriented, and mixed part-time. Moreover, the variety of livelihoods has increased, and the flexibility of farmers' choices has increased. With the government and businesses leading the development of rural tourism in Changshan Village, changes in the livelihoods of farmer households arc based on land resources, labor, and other livelihood capital. These changes are the result of active adjustment toward economic and social benefits.