TTLV: Research on the competitiveness of Dien Bien tourist destination

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name: Doan Thi Cam Tien 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: August 23, 1995

4. Place of birth: Bac Giang

5. Decision on recognition of students No. 4058/2022/QD-XHNV dated December 28, 2022 President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in the training process: Decision on extending the study period: No. 6934/QD-XHNV, dated December 16, 2024 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

7. Thesis topic: Research on the competitiveness of Dien Bien tourist destination.

8. Major: Tourism; Code: 8810101.01

9. Scientific advisor: Dr. Trinh Le Anh, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.

10. Summary of thesis results:

The research results have shown the factors that make up the competitiveness of Dien Bien tourism destination. The methods used to analyze data: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), expert interviews. The results have shown that the competitiveness of Dien Bien tourism is mainly determined by the group of factors "Destination management activities" rather than available resources. The core and most distinctive strengths of the province are cultural and historical tourism resources, notably the Dien Bien Phu battlefield relic and 19 ethnic groups living in the province. However, the limitations of Dien Bien tourism are weak transport infrastructure and a lack of high-quality accommodation facilities. The underlying cause comes from policies that are not attractive enough to attract strategic investors. Other problems such as low quality human resources, weak marketing and tourism activities are all consequences of the above root problems. Therefore, to improve competitiveness, Dien Bien needs to prioritize breakthrough investment in infrastructure and policy reform to attract capital.

11. Practical application

This study has high practical applicability, providing scientific arguments for policy makers and management agencies of Dien Bien province. The analysis results, especially the AHP model, help identify and quantify priority factors that need to focus investment resources, including improving infrastructure, attracting investment in high-end accommodation services and reforming management policies. For businesses, the topic provides orientation for tourism product development based on the core strengths of the locality, and is also the basis for improving service quality.

12. Further research directions

First, the thesisThere are no comparative studies or evaluations of the results achieved compared to other research projects in the country.Second, expand researchsurvey from tourists to evaluate satisfaction, awareness, destination image and factors influencing tourists' decision to choose Dien Bien. This result will supplement and compare with the analysis from the supply side of the thesis topic.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Doan Thi Cam Tien 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: August 23, 1995

4. Place of birth: Bac Giang

5. Student recognition decision No. 4058/QD-XHNV dated December 28, 2022 Principal of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University

6. Changes in the training process: Conformation number for extension of the duration: 6934/QD-XHNV, on December 16th 2024 from University President of VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities Hanoi.

7. Thesis title:A Study on the Destination Competitiveness of Dien Bien Tourism.

8. Major: Tourism Code: 8810101.01

9. Scientific supervisor: Ph.D Dr. Trinh Le Anh, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU

10. Summary of the results of the thesis:

The research results have identified the constituent factors of Dien Bien province's tourism competitiveness. The data was analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and expert interviews. The findings indicate that Dien Bien's tourism competitiveness is primarily determined by the "Destination Management Activities" factor group rather than its available resources.

The province's core and most distinct strength lies in its cultural and historical tourism resources, highlighted by the Dien Bien Phu historical battlefield site and the 19 ethnic groups that reside in the province. However, Dien Bien's tourism limitations are its weak transportation infrastructure and the shortage of high-quality accommodation facilities.

The root cause stems from policies that are not attractive enough to draw in strategic investors. Other issues, such as low-quality human resources and weak marketing and tour operations, result from these fundamental problems. Therefore, to enhance its competitiveness, Dien Bien needs to prioritize breakthrough investments in infrastructure and reform its policies to attract capital.

11. Practical applicability

This study has high practical applicability, providing a scientific basis for retaining and managing authorities in Dien Bien province. The analysis results, particularly the AHP model, help to identify and uncover the priority factors that require focused investment resources, including improving infrastructure, attracting investment in high-end accommodation services, and reforming management policies. For businesses, the research provides direction for developing tourism products based on the locality's core strengths, while also serving as a foundation for improving service quality.

12. Future research directions:

Firstly, the thesis lacks comparative studies to evaluate its results against other domestic research projects. Secondly, the research should be expanded to include surveys from the tourist's perspective to assess their satisfaction, perception, destination image, and the factors influencing their decision to choose Dien Bien. These findings would supplement and provide a cross-reference to the thesis's supply-side analysis.