TTLV: Research on community tourism development in Don Duong district, Lam Dong province

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Nguyen Thi Thanh Kieu

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: January 12, 1989

4. Place of birth: Hoa Phu, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak

5. Decision No. 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 31, 2014, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:Research on the development of community-based tourism in Don Duong district, Lam Dong province.

8. Major: Tourism Code: Pilot Training Program

9. Scientific supervisor:Dr. Pham Hong LongFaculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This research topic examines the necessary conditions for developing community-based tourism in Don Duong district, Lam Dong province, including the attractiveness of tourism resources, accessibility to destinations, community factors, tourist market conditions, and supporting conditions. From this, it analyzes the current situation and development needs of community-based tourism in Don Duong district based on four stakeholders: the local community, tourists, local government, and the private sector, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

The survey results showed that most people, 94.7%, support tourism development in Don Duong. Further interviews with the remaining three stakeholders revealed common viewpoints highlighting existing weaknesses in community-based tourism development in the locality. However, all stakeholders expressed a desire to develop community-based tourism in Don Duong district.

Furthermore, the study analyzes the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of Don Duong district in developing community tourism through the SWOT analysis tool. Based on the combined strategies of the SWOT matrix, from the perspective of the local government, the study proposes six groups of solutions for developing community tourism in Don Duong district, including solutions related to mechanisms and policies; tourism planning solutions; investment and upgrading of tourism infrastructure and technical facilities; technical information support solutions for local people; a proposed model for a community tourism destination in Diom A village, Lac Xuan commune; and solutions for promotion and collaboration with the private sector to help local people preserve and promote indigenous cultural values, emphasizing the culture of the Churu ethnic group, improve income through tourism activities, create opportunities for interaction with tourists, and aim for sustainable socio-economic development and building the image of Don Duong as a tourist destination.

11. Practical applications:

- Providing a useful data source for tourism businesses, government tourism management agencies, local communities, and researchers in the field of tourism.

- Implement the construction of a model community tourism project in Don Duong district based on the research results of the project, thereby promoting, attracting investment, and supporting the planning and development of community tourism in Don Duong district.

- Supplementing the practical research basis for the continued implementation of the "Project for the preservation, promotion and development of Churu cultural heritage to form a community tourism model in Don Duong district, 2014-2015 and vision 2020" by the People's Committee of Don Duong district in the coming time.

12. Future research directions:

Proposal for research on sustainable tourism development in Don Duong district.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

- "Don Duong - a new experience when visiting Da Lat",Vietnam Tourism Magazine,No. 04/2016, Hanoi.

- "Enhancing the value of distinctive agricultural products through tourism development in Don Duong district, Lam Dong province: the case of Don Duong Cayenne Pineapple brand",Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference: Exploiting Local Intellectual Property in Tourism Development(ISBN: 978-604-65-2571-4/2016), June 2016, Foreign Trade University, Hanoi.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

3. Date of birth: 12/01/1989 4. Place of birth: Hoa Phu, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak.

5. Admission decision number No. 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SĐH Dated December 31, 2014 issued by the Principle of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: Research on Community-based Tourism Development in Don Duong District, Lam Dong Province.

8. Major: Tourism Code: Experimental program

9. Supervisors: Dr. Pham Hong Long, Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University.

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

This thesis studied the essential elements to develop community-based tourism (CBT) in Don Duong district, Lam Dong province including tourism resources, accessibilities, host community, visitors and support services. In fact, the results of research show the reality and possibility of CBT development in Don Duong District through four key stakeholders: host community, visitors, local authorities, entrepreneurs by using quantitative and qualitative research methodology.

The finding of the survey indicates that most local residents agreed on developing CBT in Don Duong District, accounting for 94.7% of the total. The in-depth interviews (of three other stakeholders) revealed the weaknesses of CBT development, which exists in the area. However, all key stakeholders have expressed their desires to develop CBT in Don Duong district.

In addition, the thesis also shows strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for developing CBT in Don Duong District by using SWOT matrix. Of these, it proposed six solutions for developing CBT in Don Duong District in accordance with viewpoints of the local authorities, including:innovating regulations; install tourism planning & strategies;investing infrastructures & tourism facilities;supporting information for host community, implementing CBT model at Diom A communeandfocusing on marketing strategies to preserve authentic local culture,especially emphasizing Churu cultural values, improving local residents' incomes through participating in tourism activities and help them communicate with visitors frequently. Based on tourism development, Don Duong district develops not only its socio-economics sustainably but also builds up its destination image.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

- Provide a number of practical management implications for the trading business in the tourism sector, local governments, the tourism researchers, lecturers and students in tourism and management.

- Help businesses to better understand about CBT and implement a pilot CBT model and attract investments in Don Duong District more effective.

- Be a reference to the “Project of preserving & developing Churu cultural heritages with a view to building up CBT models in Don Duong District for the period 2014 – 2015 and visions to 2020” of Don Duong District People's Committee in the upcoming time.

12. Further research directions, if any:

Recommendation for research on sustainable tourism development in Don Duong district.

13. Thesis-related publications:

- Kieu, NTT (2016). “Don Duong - new experiences on visiting Dalat destination”.Vietnam Tourism, 04, 27-28.

- Kieu, NTT (2016). “Enhancing the value of local agricultural products by means of developing tourism in Don Duong district, Lam Dong province: Case of Don Duong Pineapple certification mark”.Paper presented at the Exploitation of local intellectual assets in tourism development, Hanoi.