The Residents’ Place Attachment Impacts Tourism in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case in Hue City, Vietnam

Abstract

Hue City is situated in the center of Vietnam and is home to a variety of tourist attractions, such as the Huong River, Ngu Binh Mountain, Hue Monument Complex, and beaches. Tourism in Hue has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the closure of both domestic and international borders. This study investigated whether residents’ place attachment influences their intention to support tourism in Hue during COVID-19. Residents’ place identity and place dependence are analyzed to determine how they influence place attachment in relation to tourism changes in Hue during the pandemic. One hundred sixty-five residents of Hue City were surveyed online to acquire data, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. Results indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly impact residents’ place attachment; however, their place identity and place dependence affected their place attachment and their support of Hue tourism. The findings emphasize the significance of residents’ place identity and place dependence in influencing their place attachment to Hue tourism during crises and demonstrate the role of residents’ support in Hue tourism.