The Perceived Impacts of Tourism: The Case of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

The Perceived Impacts of Tourism: The Case of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

A study was undertaken among the residents in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh, Vietnam, to examine the perceived impacts of tourism and to explore residents’ support for tourism development. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 residents. The findings show that, on the whole, respondents viewed tourism positively and displayed strong support for tourism development. They were generally in favor of tourism that contributes economically and socio-culturally to Ha Long Bay. They were, however, slightly ambivalent about the environmental impacts of tourism. Based on the findings, this paper discusses the implications of the research, and the direction for future studies.