THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY ENGLISH IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN CON DAO: PERSPECTIVES FROM EXPERTS AND LOCAL TOURISM PRACTITIONERS
Main Article Content
Abstract
As sustainable tourism is increasingly prioritized in destinations with distinctive ecological and historical significance, the role of local communities in shaping tourism development has garnered increasing attention. Con Dao, an archipelagic destination characterized by geographical isolation and the intersection of ecological, historical, and spiritual tourism, poses unique demands for communication between local communities and international visitors. This study examines the role of community English in sustainable tourism development in Con Dao from the perspectives of experts and local tourism practitioners. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 15 participants, including local tourism managers, heritage-related experts, and community members directly engaged in tourism activities. The findings reveal that community English in Con Dao functions not merely as a communicative tool in tourism encounters, but as a socio-cultural resource that empowers local communities to actively participate in narrating historical and cultural heritage, sustain small-scale tourism practices, and adapt to the spatial and resource constraints typical of island destinations. At the same time, the study highlights tensions associated with the development of community English, particularly unequal access to language resources within the community and the risk of exacerbating disparities in participation and opportunities in tourism activities. These findings suggest that community English should be approached as a socio-cultural resource, rather than solely as a vocational skill, within sustainable tourism strategies for island destinations such as Con Dao.
Keywords
community English, sustainable tourism, local community, Con Dao, island tourism
Article Details
References
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