Conclusion

This chapter concludes the book by summarizing key findings on rural tourism gentrification in China, focusing on the identities, motivations, and practices of RTMs. RTMs’ flexible urban-rural mobility challenges traditional migration narratives. They reshape rural landscapes through hybrid consumer-producer roles, blending authenticity with Western aesthetics. Their complex relationships with local residents transcend direct displacement, as landscape—rather than physical—displacement occurs. Moreover, villagers hold the upper hand shaped by China’s land policies and the Renqing society. The study contributes to gentrification theory beyond urban and Western contexts, highlighting context-specific dynamics. It recommends inclusive policies for sustainable rural tourism development and acknowledges limitations, suggesting future research on RTMs’ multi-local practices, tourist roles, and broader community impacts.