When tourism intersects traditional rural livelihoods: A case study on lagoon fishing in Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Vietnam

Tourism development is an oft-touted strategy to enhance the livelihoods of local residents and reduce their dependence on resources. This study explores the determinants of lagoon fishermen’s participation in tourism-related activities and evaluates whether tourism is an alternative livelihood option for Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Vietnam. We employed propensity score matching to analyze the survey data from 265 households in the coastal area of the lagoon. Our study indicates that tourism cannot provide a sustainable livelihood for local residents if the locals forego their traditional livelihood practices and completely transform the region into a tourist attraction, even though it can contribute to increasing household income. Other factors, such as low levels of education and larger travel distances between the lagoons and existing tourist areas, are the primary barriers to fishermen participation in tourism. Finally, we analyzed the related policy and managerial implications to improve tourism and diversify the locals’ livelihoods.