Women’s Roles in Community-Based Tourism Service Chains and Livelihood Restructuring in the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam

Background and objective: The Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is a highly sensitive coastal socio-ecological system (SES) facing intensified climate variability and resource depletion. In Thanh An Island Commune, traditional livelihoods such as nearshore fishing and salt production have declined in stability and profitability, prompting the need for sustainable livelihood alternatives. Community-based tourism (CBT) has emerged as a promising pathway, with women occupying central positions across service and knowledge-transfer activities. This study examines the depth of women’s participation in CBT and evaluates its effects on household income stability, social capital formation, and mangrove ecosystem stewardship.Methods: A mixed-methods design was applied, combining structured surveys of 77 CBT households (involving 208 women directly engaged), semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and pre-/post-CBT income comparison, while qualitative interpretation was guided by the SES framework.Results: Findings indicate that household incomes increased substantially and became more stable after engaging in CBT, while dependence on seasonal marine extraction decreased. Women played pivotal roles in accommodation services, culinary production, local product processing, and cultural-ecological interpretation. Their participation strengthened intra-household decision-making, expanded women-centered social networks, and reinforced the intergenerational transmission of ecological and cultural knowledge.Conclusion: CBT in Thanh An Island Commune contributes not only to livelihood diversification and economic resilience but also to the preservation of mangrove ecosystems and local cultural heritage. Women function as key mediators linking sustainable livelihood strategies with environmental conservation, highlighting the necessity of gender-responsive approaches in community-based development and coastal resilience planning

Biosphere · Ecosystem services · Fishing · Livelihood · Mangrove · Psychological resilience · Sustainability · Tourism · Coastal and Marine Management · Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics · Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

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