Dr Mark Hampton Presents on Coastal Tourism in Vietnam: Lessons from Ha Long Bay
The School of Hospitality (SOH) Research Seminar Series for 2019 started well. Dr Mark Hampton from the University of Kent presented a case study of coastal tourism and its impacts in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, the country’s leading tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ha Long Bay is located in the north of Vietnam with easy access from Hanoi. It is a land and seascape of over 2,000 limestone islands in a wide bay with the growing coastal city of Ha Long to its north. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay attracts over 3 million visitors each year and is an iconic “must see” destination for international visitors. The lecture is based on an international project led by Dr Hampton with colleagues from Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the University of Bradford, UK. The findings have been published in the Journal of Development Studies. The talk provided an introduction to tourism in Vietnam from its origins in the French colonial period through to its recent growth and diversification, moving to the case study of Ha Long Bay. The scale and scope of tourism was highlighted before the lecture’s main discussion concerning the key economic impacts. The presentation concluded with key lessons that can be learnt from this case study.
Dr Mark Hampton has extensive field experience in South-East Asia, the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and South Atlantic and his research has been funded by the World Bank; Commonwealth Secretariat; Foreign & Commonwealth Office; DFID; SECO (Swiss overseas aid); Ministry of Tourism Malaysia; British Academy and the British Council.
Professor Marcus Stephenson, Dean of the School of Hospitality comments, “I have known Dr Hampton for many years, he is a great scholar and researcher. He always focuses on critical detail and is academically rigourous. The presentation was very informative and pertinent”.
Sponsored by Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa, this seminar is part of SOH’s commitment to strive for research excellence where faculty members and other academicians are provided an excellent opportunity to exchange research expertise and ideas, paving the way for future research collaborations.
Throughout this series leading academics and distinguished guest speakers, as well as faculty staff members, are invited to share the latest research advances in their field, especially to contribute to the continuing professional development of the faculty.
All university colleagues are welcome to attend the SOH Research Seminar Series, as well as staff from other university. For details of forthcoming sessions, please contact, Dr Daisy at @email.
