Coping with precarity in the tourism performing arts industry: a case study of China's Wa entertainers

• Published in: Journal of sustainable tourism Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 1937 - 1955
• Main Authors: Yang, Xihao, Round, John, Bao, Jigang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Clevedon Routledge 23.05.2022; Multilingual Matters Ltd
• Subjects: Careers; China; creative work; Geographical mobility; Minority & ethnic groups; Performing arts; Precarity; Sustainability; Tactics; Tourism; tourism labour migrant; tourism performing arts; China
• ISSN: 0966-9582; 1747-7646
• DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2021.1965152

This article examines the precarious work experiences and coping tactics of entertainers in China's tourism performing arts (TPAs), who are also tourism labour migrants (TLMs). Focusing on a particular ethnic group, Wa entertainers (WEs), this article aims to highlight how TLMs sustain their careers and fight for decent work. Qualitive methods were applied to investigate entertainers in a neglected sector of the tourism industry. The findings show that entertainers face two main aspects of precarity: labour relations and job attributes. Inspired by the precarious TPA work, WEs develop micro-tactics to resist, namely, they have suitable geographical mobility choices and actively participate in skilling and learning. Thus, WEs become more capacitated to switch smoothly between different jobs to sustain a broader career in tourism-oriented sectors. This article offers critical insights into the capability development of tourism practitioners. It reflects on a vernacular, grassroots redefinition of sustainability with respect to decent work, in which a stable or predictable career pathway may not be the ultimate purpose for grassroots TLMs.