Information about the thesis "Sustainable Development of Cat Ba (Hai Phong) Coastal Tourism" by graduate student Vu Dinh Thuyen, majoring in Tourism Studies.1. Student's Full Name: Vu Dinh Thuyen 2. Gender: Male 3. Date of Birth: January 3, 1985 4. Place of Birth: Luc Ngan – Bac Giang 5. Decision No. 1528/QD-XHNV-KH&SDH dated October 14, 2009, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 6. Changes during the training process: None 7. Thesis Title: Sustainable Development of Cat Ba (Hai Phong) Coastal Tourism 8. Major: Tourism Studies; Code: (Pilot Training Program) 9. Scientific Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoe, lecturer at the Faculty of Environment, University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 10. Summary of thesis results: - The type of beach tourism depends on many factors, the most important of which is the quality and level of conservation of natural "ecological capital" (seawater quality, marine ecosystems...); the more tourism develops, the more tourists care about environmental protection, and this largely determines the level of attractiveness of a tourist destination. - Beach tourism in Cat Ba is still not sustainable in all four aspects. (1) criteria for meeting the needs of tourists: considered not good because only 30% of tourists surveyed expressed a desire to return to Cat Ba and most tourists only stayed here for a few days; (2) from an environmental perspective: considered alarming, because pollution is becoming increasingly serious, especially coastal water pollution and increasing solid waste; (3) From an economic perspective: although revenue from tourism activities has grown quite well, it has not contributed to environmental protection – the most important factor for sustainable marine tourism development. In the long term, this revenue source is also difficult to sustain if Cat Ba's marine tourism is no longer attractive to tourists; (4) From a social perspective: it is considered unsustainable because of the widespread price escalation during peak months of marine tourism and the disparity in living standards between people in Cat Ba town and neighboring communes. The main reasons for unsustainability are: environmental pollution, monotonous products and services, and excessive pressure from tourists during the peak tourist season. - The author proposes solutions aimed at sustainable development of marine tourism in Cat Ba (Hai Phong) from all four perspectives and closely follows the reasons why marine tourism here is not sustainable. (1) With the criterion of meeting the needs of tourists: identifying the characteristics and preferences of the key tourist market, thereby serving as a basis for building unique marine tourism products. (2) From an environmental perspective: proposing the creation of a separate weather bulletin for Cat Ba Island, replanning fish farming cages, strictly prohibiting environmentally destructive activities from ships and seafood processing facilities, and encouraging people to actively participate in environmental protection. (3) From an economic perspective: proposing the establishment of an environmental protection fund based on contributions from tourism businesses and tourists. (4) From a social perspective: in the short term, providing solutions to limit overcrowding during peak tourist season; in the long term, defining a brand for Cat Ba marine tourism to position the image of a "paradise island" in the minds of tourists. 11. Practical application: - The thesis serves as a basis for developing sustainable marine tourism in Cat Ba. The proposed solutions are applicable in practice, especially in reducing environmental pollution in this area. 12. Further research directions: None 13. Published works related to the thesis: None
INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS
1. Full name: Vu Dinh Thuyen 2. Sex: Male 3. Date of birth: January 3, 1985 4. Place of birth: Luc Ngan, Bac Giang 5. Admission decision number: 1528/QD-XHNV-KH&SĐH dated October 14, 2009 by the Principal of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University - Hanoi. 6. Changes in academic process: None 7. Official thesis title: Sea tourism sustainable development in Cat Ba (Hai Phong) 8. Major: Tourism; Code: (Pilot training program) 9. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoe, Lecturer of environment department under University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Hanoi. 10. Summary of the findings of the thesis: - Type of sea travel depends on many factors, of which the most important is the quality and extent of conservation of natural "ecological resources" (quality of sea water and marine ecosystems); the more the tourism grows, the more visitors are interested in environmental protection; it decides the level of tourist attraction. - Sea travel in Cat Ba is still not sustainable in both of four aspects. (1) criteria for meeting the damand of tourists: is still not good because only 30% of tourists who are being asked express that they want to return to Cat Ba and almost the toursits only stay here for a few days; (2) in terms of environmental aspect: it is considered as alarming due to the serious pollution, especially the coastal water pollution and increase in solid waste; (3) in terms of economic aspect: although the revenue from tourism has rather good growth, it has not contributed to the environmental protection yet – which is one of the most important factor to approach the sustainable tourism, in terms of long – term aspect, this revenue is also not sustainable in case sea travel in Cat Ba is not attractive to the tourists; (4) in terms of social aspect: it is assessed as to be under-sustainable because of the current status of price escalation during the peak months of sea travel and the living standard difference between people in the Cat Ba Small town and neighboring communes. The reasons for in-sustainablity are: environmental pollution, single products and services, great pressure from tourists within the tourism services. - The writer has given out the solution to sustainable development of sea travel in Cat Ba (Hai Phong) under four aspects and closely follow the reasons making the sea travel here not sustainable. (1) for creteria to meet the demand of tourists: give out the characteristics and favorites of key tourists market, then they shall act as the base for the establishment of specialized sea travel products. (2) for environmental aspect: propose the establishment of specific weather forecast for Cat Ba Island, re-plan the fish cage, strictly prohibit the environmental destruction activities of boats, aquatic products processing units, at the same time mobilize the people to actively take part in the environmental protection. (3) for the economic aspect: propose to establish the funds for environmental protection based on the contribution of tourism enterpises and tourists. (4) for the social aspect: in short-term period, give out the measures to limit the overload in toursim business; In long-term period, define the trademark for Cat Ba sea to give out the image of “heaven of island sea” in the tourists' mind. 11. Practical applicability: - This thesis is a basis for sustainable development of Cat Ba Sea Travel. These solutions may be realized, especially for minimization of environmental solutions. 12. Further research directions: Not yet 13. Thesis-related publications: None
