ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF HUMANISTIC TOURISM RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE COASTAL AREA: THE CASE IN VIETNAM

Abstract

The study evaluated the potential of humanistic tourism resources to develop communitybased tourism (CBT) in the coastal area of ThanhHoa (Vietnam). To achieve this goal, we
surveyed 2410 people including locals, cultural managers, domestic tourists, international
tourists and travel agency representatives. Thereby it is possible to see their assessment of
humanitarian tourism resources as well as the ability to exploit them in CBT activities.
Analysis results have shown that the evaluation criteria system for human resources is
divided into 5 factors, including (i) Religion, belief, (ii) Cultural heritage system, (iii) Local
festivals,(iv) Traditional handicraft villages, (v) Culinary culture. In which, traditional craft
villages are a key factor to create advantages to develop local community- based tourism.