Corporate Social Responsibility: A Grassroots' Approach Of Ethnic Minorities’ Tourism Stakeholders In Ta Phin, Vietnam

Tourism was given an exemplary importance in developmental priorities due to its ability to bring revenues over a short duration at a macroeconomic level. It can be a vehicle of income earning openings, cultural revitalisation, enhancing awareness of issues related to the environmental and cultural sustainability and contributing to the improvement of local government. In the course of time though it was realised that tourism development at a micro-grassroots’ level for poverty reduction needs to address responsibly the unique interests and unique conditions of the poverty stricken ones; and in this case that of the ethnic impoverished minorities such as the Red Dao and Black H’mong in Ta Phin, Sapa, Vietnam. Hence the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which is closely linked to poverty reduction needs to be considered at a governmental and external agency level in order meet the sustainable needs of the ethnic minorities. An exploratory, participative, approach to research was undertaken for the data collection whilst grounded theory was employed for data analysis. The findings indicated that socially responsibility can only be implemented when there is acknowledgement of the unique culture of the destination; there is development of the informal sector; there is infrastructural adequacy; investment in social infrastructure; networking; marketing and promotion; and access to credit.