Tourism development in Cat Ba Island in Northern Vietnam

Abstract

During the last decades, Vietnam has confronted a rapid population increase with a growing demand for economic changes as well as a growing interest in resources. The country’s location next to China is affecting its economic and political climate. There has been a lot of scientific research literature concerning flora and fauna of the coastal areas of Northern Vietnam, but not so much concerning tourism or tourism development and its linkage with the environment.

The purpose of this research is not only to list negative or positive changes that may result from tourism development on a local scale on Cat Ba Island. Instead, we focus on the important questions, such as whom or what is being affected, what are the consequences, and what are the possibilities to change the evitable.