Taiwanese indigenous people or Taiwanese aborigines are people of Austronesian origin who have lived in Taiwan since around 4000 to 4500 BC. Today, the majority of Taiwan’s residents are Han Chinese. Indigenous people represent only 2.2% of Taiwan’s population. There are 16 indigenous ethnic groups that are officially recognized by the government.
Residents of many aboriginal villages take part in tourism. Although there are significant differences between the attractions and activities offered from one village to another, most of the villages can be classified into one or more of the following types of tourism: ecotourism, cultural tourism or sports tourism. The visitors are often able to experience aboriginal culture, such as aboriginal handicraft, weaving and trying on traditional clothing and tasting aboriginal cuisine, and enjoy recreational activities in unspoiled nature such as hiking and diving. In most indigenous villages, visitors are also able to purchase items crafted by the aborigines.
Indigenous tourism has both positive and negative consequences. It may encourage conservation of indigenous culture and traditions, positively affect local economy and therefore enable more investments into environmental protection. On the other hand, it causes changing of aboriginal culture and creation of pseudo-traditions which are more attractive to tourists. Furthermore, tourists and related infrastructure cause an increase in pollution, a change in local ecology and other harmful effects on the environment. In some villages, indigenous residents lost control over tourism infrastructure which is now being controlled by the Han, and therefore do not receive financial benefits brought on by tourism development.
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