Tourismscapes and destination sustainability: a case study of Da Nang and Hue, Vietnam

Tourism can be a driver for the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to align tourism with the SDGs, there is a need for collaboration strategies and governance structures that involve multiple actors across various sectors. Stakeholder collaboration is at the heart of SDG17, a goal that focuses on inclusive partnerships for sustainable development. This research examines the ways by which stakeholders interact and work together in partnerships towards sustainability in two provincial destinations in Vietnam. Specifically, this thesis addresses the question: how do multiple stakeholders work collectively towards sustainability at tourism destinations? This thesis presents a framework that integrates actor-network theory (ANT) and social network analysis (SNA) to conceptualise the multiplicities of entities and relationships within destination tourismscapes. This study adopts a multiple-case study strategy focusing on Da Nang City and Hue Province in Vietnam. An initial document analysis highlights that these destinations are exemplars of cities experiencing issues relating to sustainable tourism development. This study focuses on stakeholder actions and interactions in tourism development at the Son Tra peninsula in Da Nang city and the Complex of Hue Monuments in Hue Province to analyse sustainability issues. The research design engages various methods to gain critical insight into stakeholder networks, relationships, and actions. First, a social network analysis identified cooperation between stakeholders to assist in explaining networks for sustainability and the dynamics of stakeholder relationships. Second, document analysis, in-depth interviews, and onsite observations of activities and interactions of individuals and organisations were carried out during a period of fieldwork from June to October 2018. The findings of the Da Nang case study reveal how entities of the destination were involved in collective actions to challenge tourism development and protect the natural environment at Son Tra Peninsula. This involvement informed the formation of a self-regulating action network and influenced the dynamics of stakeholder relationships in Da Nang. The findings of the Hue case study reveal how entities of the destination assembled into three networks working to rejuvenate tourism at the same time as preserving cultural heritage. These actor networks in Hue informed a strategic vision for sustainable heritage tourism and influenced the dynamics of stakeholder relationships. These case study findings evidence a shift within each destination from an initial focus on tourism development (Da Nang) or cultural heritage preservation (Hue) to a focus on community involvement and a balance between preservation and development. These findings are presented as tourismscapes through a cross-case analysis that synthesises the networks and the networking processes. Governance for sustainability is understood as involving hybrid relationships of cooperation and competition/conflict (‘coopetition’), which are established as essential for sustainable tourism. The material model of tourismscapes offers a visualised representation of the dynamics of tourism destinations in the development process. This model offers a deeper insight into the multiplicities of actors in the pursuit of destination sustainability. Thus, tourismscapes for destination sustainability sheds new light on the dynamics of stakeholder collaborations and partnerships to promote inclusiveness and balance between human and non-human actors. Recognition and engagement with the multiplicities of actors, networks and destinations are found to be essential for the pursuit of SDG17 at tourism destinations.