Dr. Duong Thi Minh Phuong Publishes Research on Community-Based Tourism in a WoS Q1 Journal

Dr. Duong Thi Minh Phuong, a full-time researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU), and her colleagues have published the article “Community-based ecotourism and the challenges of local participation: insights from an ecotourism venture in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam” in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management , Volume 69, Issue 5 (2026). Dr. Phuong is the article’s first and corresponding author. Published by Taylor & Francis, the journal has a 2025 Impact Factor of 3.9 and a highest quartile ranking of Q1 in Journal Citation Reports.

The article explores local residents’ participation in a community-based ecotourism initiative in Tà Lài associated with Cat Tien National Park. Using qualitative research methods, the authors examine the work residents undertake, the benefits they receive, and the difficulties they face when participating in tourism activities.

The findings show that opportunities to participate in and benefit from the initiative are unevenly distributed among resident groups. Limited skills, along with difficulties in coordination and information sharing among stakeholders, also affect residents’ participation. These findings highlight the need to pay greater attention to community needs, practical circumstances, and perspectives when organizing local tourism activities.

Based on these findings, the authors recommend providing training in job-relevant skills, maintaining communication with residents and gathering their feedback, and clarifying benefit-sharing arrangements. The study also emphasizes integrating local knowledge and culture into tourism activities to support livelihoods linked to nature conservation.

By connecting tourism with community development, the article provides a useful reference for research and teaching in Tourism, Sociology, and Social Work at FSSH. The Ta Lai case also helps students explore practical issues concerning residents’ roles and the organization of community-based tourism activities.

Read the article at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2024.2428257

Some images from the research site

An information sign for the WWF-funded Ta Lai Tourist Reception House

A glimpse of daily life among Chau Ma residents in Ta Lai.

A trail and a sign displaying forest protection rules at Cat Tien National Park