"Government" and "Ethnic Group": A Community-based Ethnic Creative Tourism Management Paradigm in Vietnam

Abstract

In the context of Vietnam, nature and culture have considered
as essential capitals for tourism and acting as engine of promoting
economic growth and also enhancing standards of quality of life for
Vietnamese people due to the aforementioned capitals could be
generate various of attractive tourism activities, particularly communitybased
ethnic creative tourism which can create career for local people
and bringing the country numerous tourists and income. Besides, it is
also a process of development and integration encouraging minorities
to have a chance to participate in tourism administration together with
government in term of tourism entrepreneur, for instance, the White
Tai ethnic group in Pom Coong village, Mai Chau at Hoa Binh province,
the northwest in Vietnam.
Aforesaid, this article aimed to study on theory of communitybased
ethnic creative tourism, roles and paradigms of government and
White Tai ethnic group in the management of tourism communitybased
ethnic creative tourism. The authors adapted documentary
research approach which included Thai, English and Vietnamese books,
theses and academic articles which related to community-based
tourism, ethnic tourism and creative tourism. Furthermore, field survey
and observation method and informal interview are adapted.
The findings indicated that community-based ethnic creative
tourism is a concept that offers the visitors and hosts opportunity to
get a strong relationship through living and participation in tourism
activities which are characteristic of indigenous or local people where
they lived. After their living and joining the activities, they can
implement the knowledge and experience they gained applied for their
everyday life. Community-based ethnic creative tourism concept is a
paradigm which Vietnamese government efforts to promote for
reducing poverty alleviation through tourism. Besides, its status also
inspires ethnic groups to value their culture and educate them on how
to preserve their culture. In addition, this tourism does not only
centrally planned by government, but ethnic groups are key person for
administration, capacity assessment and define the direction of their
own tourism resource development.