Management and Development of Paddy Ecosystem Services in Hongthai, Vietnam by Using SWOT Analysis Method

Abstract

With an increase in the world population, the global demand for tourism development is rising, promoting the increased utilization of natural ecosystem services. The agricultural ecosystem, particularly the rice paddy ecosystem, is paramount in socio-economic and tourism development for developing countries. The aim of this study is to find solutions for management and development of paddy ecosystem services towards sustainable ecotourism development in poor and vulnerable areas in developing countries. This study assessed the management and development of paddy ecosystem services in Hongthai, Vietnam via the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) method. The results indicate that despite the high potentialities of paddy ecosystem services, much more investigation is required for the management and development of these services for tourism development. The intricate and disjoined mountainous topography of Hongthai poses challenges to the establishment of infrastructure networks and economic advancement. This results in elevated travel expenses for tourists, with limited return on investment, thereby impeding Hongthai's ability to compete with tourist destinations in neighboring provinces. The results provide a theoretical and practical basis for the process of evaluating the effectiveness of investment programs and projects for economic and social development and ecotourism activities in Hongthai, Vietnam. Also, the SWOT results recommend and orient local people's agricultural development activities towards improving the efficiency of exploitation of available ecosystem services. The findings of this study may be useful for formulating effective management strategies at different scales.