This book represents a shifting of emphasis away from the discourse of authenticity to the process of authenticating ethnic tourism. It focuses upon what authentication is, how it works, who is involved, and what the problems are in the process. By using the study of folk villages on Hainan Island, China, the book suggests that authenticity evolves from a static into a more dynamic concept, which can be formulated according to the different stages of development relating to all the stakeholders involved. Authentication is an interactive process in which a balance of forces defines a state of equilibrium. The book uncovers some interesting findings that will significantly contribute to the literature on ethnic tourism in developing areas.

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The book is well-researched, conceptualized, and written in an approachable and thought-provoking style. Its central aim is to shift away from the discourse of authenticity to the processes of authenticating ethnic tourism. Xie achieves this goal by applying a strong conceptual framework to analyze and evaluate authentication by different stakeholders of ethnic tourism in a specific setting—the ethnic Li minority on Hainan Island, China.