The impact of social capital on promoting residents' behavior of protecting the environment within community-based ecotourism - The case of Cu Lao Cham island, Vietnam
Abstract
In the process of developing sustainable community-based ecotourism, local
residents’ protecting behaviors towards the environment are proved to play an
important role. This study aims at investigating the impact of several factors,
including social capital and economic benefits, on the decision of individual to avoid
negative consequences for the environment in Cu Lao Cham island. A total of 305
valid questionnaires was received using convenient and snowball sampling. Data
analysis used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM)
approach. The findings indicate that (1) establishing social capital, especially
structural social capital, within a community can directly support the positive actions
of residents on improving environmental conditions, (2) financial benefits from
tourism activities are still the first concern that has the strongest impact on these
people’s behaviors, and (3) both economic advantages and social capital all play roles
of mediating factors on the relationship between residents’ community participation
and pro-environmental behaviors. Based on the result, the author had several
implications for the government and tourism agents to improve the positive behaviors
of residents towards the environment.
Keywords: community-based ecotourism, community participation, Cu Lao Cham,
Economic benefits, PLS-SEM, Pro-environmental behaviors, local residents, social
capital