The Relationship Between Pro-Environmental Awareness and Behavior of Local People in Developing Community-Based Tourism: A Case in The Mekong Delta, Vietnam

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue V, May 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

The Relationship Between Pro-Environmental Awareness and Behavior of Local People in Developing Community-Based Tourism: A Case in The Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Nguyen Quoc Nghi*, Bui Van Trinh
College of Economics, Can Tho University
* Corresponding author

Abstract – The objective of the study is to demonstrate the relationship between the local people’s pro-environmental awareness and behavior in developing community-based tourism in the Mekong Delta. The data were collected from 210 local people involved in developing community-based tourism in Can Tho City, An Giang Province, Dong Thap Province, and Tien Giang Province. The structural equation modeling (SEM)was applied.The study has proved that environmental education and environmental management positively influence pro-environmental awareness of local people. Also, the study has shown a positive relationship between the pro-environmental awareness and behavior of local people towards the development of community-based tourism in the Mekong Delta.

Keywords: awareness, behavior, environmental protection, community-based tourism.

I. INTRODUCTION

The Mekong Delta has an area of over 40.000 km2 with a 700km coastline. There areplenty of primeval forests, 3 biosphere reserves, 5 national parks, 3 nature reserves, and 7 habitat conservation areas in the Mekong Delta. It is not only a key food production area but also one of the seven tourist areas of Vietnam. The Mekong Delta is famous for eco-tourism and river tourism. In 2019, the Mekong Delta welcomed 47 million visitors with total revenue from the tourism of VND 30.000 billion. In the last 5 years, localities in the Mekong Delta have focused on tourism development and plans to make tourism become a key economic sector. In particular, developing community-basedtourism is considered very important. This type of tourism has brought economic benefits to local people in rural areas. The main reasons for the success in developing this type of tourism are the cooperation among local communities and the support from local authorities. However, community-based tourism is still facing difficulties and challenges that significantly affect its development in the future. In which, environmental pollution is an urgent issue. Therefore, this study was conducted to point out the relationship between the pro-environmental awareness and behavior of local people in developing community-based tourism in the Mekong Delta.

II. RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Many studies have shown the relationship between pro-environmental awareness and behavior. A good environmental education base is an essential starting point to raise awareness of the environment (Hailu, 2016; Kustrová, 2012). Environmental education programs aim to change awareness and behavior by increasing environmental knowledge (Esa, 2010; Onel et al., 2016). Besides, close environmental management helps raise the awareness of environmental protection in the community (Mai Hoang Thinh, 2017). Awareness of environmental protection is closely related to pro-environmental behavior (Bamberg and Möser, 2007; Jovanović et al., 2016).

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