Social values for ecosystem services represent the material and non-material benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, and are integral components of socio-ecological systems, reflecting how people perceive, interact with and give meaning to their environment. Stakeholders' perception preferences of these values are critical for sustainable ecosystem management and fundamentally linked to human well-being. Taking the Lugu Lake Tourist Scenic Area in Sichuan Province as a case study, this research investigated the attributes, trade-offs, spatial distribution patterns, and formation mechanisms of social values for ecosystem services from community residents' perspectives. By integrating semi-structured interviews, participatory mapping, and a mixed-method approach combining qualitative and spatial analyses, this research provided an understanding of how tourism development reshapes the dynamics of social values for ecosystem services. Key findings were as follows: First, community residents perceived six categories of social values for ecosystem services, ordered by their proportional emphasis as follows: representative services (24.55%), livelihood support (18.13%), spiritual services (16.42%), recreational services (14.70%), economic services (14.28%), and aesthetic services (11.92%). Notably, cultural attributes were identified as the most prominent across these categories, with representative and spiritual services collectively accounting for 40.97% of total responses, underscoring the centrality of local cultural identity in shaping residents’ perceptions. Secondly, synergistic relationships (87.19%) predominantly characterized interactions among social values for ecosystem services, with these synergies concentrated in multifunctional zones where economic services acted as a key driver, mutually reinforcing services such as representation and aesthetics. For instance, cultural landmarks and scenic areas attracted tourists, fostering mutual benefits between cultural preservation and economic growth. In contrast, trade-offs (12.81%) were concentrated in single-function zones, primarily driven by economic services displacing cultural spaces and community functions. For instance, commercialization of sacred sites and overcrowding in residential areas highlighted tensions between tourism revenue and community well-being. Third, tourism development reshaped residents’ priorities (demand), altered resource allocation (supply), and redefined spatial functions (space). These three components formed a dynamic “demand-supply-space” triad, collectively shaping the spatiotemporal differentiation and evolution of trade-offs and synergistic relationships of social values for ecosystem services. The findings emphasized the dual role of economic services as both a driver of synergies and a source of conflict. This study dissected the formation mechanisms and dynamic evolution of tourism-driven trade-offs and synergies in social values for ecosystem services. The proposed triad framework integrated stakeholder perceptions with spatiotemporal dynamics, offering theoretical foundations and practical references for coordinating ecological, cultural, and economic development while enhancing ecosystem service management in ethnic regions.