Chinese rural residents' identity construction with tourism intervention

Tourism improves rural residents' livelihoods, partially narrowing the urban-rural economic gap. However, the extent of the identity gap reduction necessitates further research. Drawing on Identity Process Theory (IPT), this study explores the identity change among Shangliang village residents, triggered by tourism since 2015. Employing semi-structured interviews and participant observation, this study reveals the mechanism of rural residents' identity construction with tourism intervention and specific representations of rural identity changes following IPT's four principles. Results indicate that the developmental changes brought by rural tourism, encompassing space, livelihood, social relationships and culture, impact residents' identities, whose representations display dynamic and complex features. The emergence of a new hybrid identity among rural residents signifies a transformed urban-rural relationship in China. These findings deepen the understanding of how tourism-induced material changes influence rural identity, particularly the predominant role of self-esteem and self-efficacy principles of IPT in the process of rural identity construction. •Tourism-driven developmental changes impact rural residents' identity construction.•Complexity of identity signals a new hybrid identity and rural-urban relationship.•Satisfying self-esteem and self-efficacy principles mitigate perceived identity threats.•Identity Process Theory offers a useful theoretical framework to study rural identity.