Title: Perceptions of tourists and locals on tourism infrastructure and environmental protection in rural sustainable tourism

Authors: Nguyen Hai Quang

Addresses: Faculty of Commerce, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, 140 Le Trong Tan Street, Tay Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between tourism infrastructure, environmental protection, and sustainable tourism development in rural areas, highlighting differing perceptions of tourists and local residents. It contributes by providing empirical evidence from Vietnam's rural tourism context, with a novel focus on dual perspectives. Using a survey of 300 tourists and 265 local residents, analysed with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), the study shows that improved tourism infrastructure supports both environmental protection and sustainable tourism. Environmental protection not only directly influences sustainable tourism development but also partially mediates the impact of tourism infrastructure on sustainability. Furthermore, tourists tend to perceive the role of tourism infrastructure in environmental protection and sustainable tourism development as more significant compared to local residents. These results suggest that local authorities should plan and develop tourism infrastructure in alignment with environmental sustainability standards and objectives to enhance sustainable tourism in rural areas.

Keywords: tourism infrastructure; environmental sustainability; stakeholder perception; rural tourism; Vietnam.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2025.149787

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2025 Vol.15 No.5, pp.457 - 471

Received: 19 Nov 2024
Accepted: 23 Aug 2025
Published online: 12 Nov 2025 *

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