3. Cinsbu-Xinguang Case Study
3.2. The Characteristics of Cinsbu-Xinguang Community-based Tourism
3.2. The Characteristics of Cinsbu-Xinguang Community-based Tourism
Cinsbu-Xinguang has been seriously involved in Community Based Tourism for the past two decades, with beautiful mountainous landscapes and hiking trails. The famous hiking trail (Cinsbu Cypress trail 鎮西堡檜木) leads to an ancient forest, where huge cypress trees remain, that survived the logging industry of the Japanese and then KMT afterwards.20
Besides the natural attraction of the Cypress Forest Trail, other tourism services in Cinsbu-Xinguang include homestays and lodging, a weaving workshop, restaurants, educational spaces, organic farming, and selling of local souvenirs. The cultural aspect plays a crucial role in the Cinsbu-Xinguang tourism. Sometimes when a guided group arrives at the village, a Sbalay ceremony is performed. Sbalay is a “cleansing ceremony through the act of watering two saplings, serves as a blessing” for the visitors. Most of the visitors to Cinsbu are domestic tourists (Taiwanese), with a small number of international tourists (from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and a smaller number from other countries)21 (Yen & Kuan, 2004; Lin, Lahuy, & Kuan, 2007: 150;
Yen & Chen, 2013).
In Cinsbu there is an educational space, called Tkyu. There are a few buildings in Tkyu, where each building is a room intended to hold a different perspective of the Atayal life and culture. One room is dedicated to traditional weaving techniques. The second room holds a model of the traditional territory mapping. In the third there are tools, baskets and models of housing. In Tkyu there is also a big dining hall with a kitchen where the guests can eat lunch or breakfast made with locally grown products, which some come from the organic farm nearby. The dining hall can also serve as workshop hall, with its long tables. Tkyu is also used by the community itself to gather and teach children as well as for sharing the culture and traditions with the tourists.
An important part of the Tkyu compound is the Pnhwan, a fireplace, inside a hut, where guests spend their evening around the fire. Sometimes there will be a presentation of the history of the
20 According to the locals, many Atayal resisted government logging activities, which helped to preserve these trees – now rare in Taiwan. Because of these activities, the large cypress trees gain more meaning.
21 Although visiting communities of Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan is considered domestic tourism, Han Taiwanese visiting these communities can be socially understood as an “international”, as “various indigenous or national or religious minorities often represent a domestic alien to members of the majority” (Cohen & Cohen, 2015: 17).
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village, the surrounding area and the social-environmental activities. Visitors might also learn about current issues and problems of the mountainous Atayal communities in general and of Cinsbu-Xinguang in particular. Cultural activities in the evening also include making a millet cake (mocha) by pounding millet and then dipping it in local honey or sugar-peanuts mix. Other possible cultural activities will include singing and play the Atayal mouth harp. These cultural activities also take place in a number of B&Bs, not only in Tkyu (Interviews).
Cinsbu-Xinguang is clearly a case of Community Based Tourism which is a family or group-owned enterprise, where family or group members may work for lower wages, with the main goal of bringing prosperity to the family or group as a whole.
Besides these important characteristics, from the attraction perspective, it seems that Cinsbu is a typical example of Community Based Tourism. That is, the main attractions are natural environment and landscape, as well as cultural heritage. This can be seen in the Cypress Forest trail and the cultural activities offered by the B&Bs (in Tkyu or in different locations).
The findings from the questionnaire confirm this, with residents agree with the statement that “the Cypress Trail is one of the main attractions to tourist” and that “tourists are welcome to visit Cinsbu-Xinguang”. 98% of respondents think that a natural attraction is important for successful community based tourism, and 84% of respondents see an importance of cultural attraction for successful community based tourism.
The results support the current understanding that natural and cultural attractions are of high importance for successful Community Based Tourism. In the case of Cinsbu-Xinguang, these attractions, or resources, are the Atayal cultural heritage the natural environment, especially the Cypress Trail.
However, it should be noted that an interviewer stated that tourism in Cinsbu-Xinguang is considered not mature yet, as most residents busy with other work, especially farming (interview 6).
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Table 3: Cinsbu-Xinguang tourism characteristics
Statement Mean Min Max
Tourists are welcome to visit Cinsbu-Xinguag 4 2 5
Tourists come to Cinsbu-Xinguag only because of the Cypress Trail
3.58 1 5
The Cypress Trail is one of the main attractions to tourist 4 1 5 Tourists come to Cinsbu-Xinguag only because of the Atayal
culture
3.6 2 5
The Atayal culture is one of the main attractions to tourists 3.5 1 5
Figure 5: Important factors for successful CBT (Cinsbu-Xinguang)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Cinsbu-Xinguang: What is important for successful CBT?
Natural attractions Cultural Attractions Not too expensive Good accommodation Good transportation Special food
Local collaboration Other