Living heritage and community participation for sustainable tourism: A case study of the Yên Tu - Vinh Nghiêm - Côn Son - Kiep Bac World Heritage cluster in Vietnam

Abstract

Community engagement is a cornerstone of sustainable tourism, particularly within World Heritage contexts where cultural identity and heritage safeguarding intersect. This study examines how local communities contribute to sustaining tourism and preserving intangible cultural values in the Yên Tu - Vinh Nghiêm - Côn Son - Kiep Bac heritage cluster in northern Vietnam, a spiritual landscape under UNESCO World Heritage nomination. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines survey data from 350 local stakeholders with in-depth interviews and document analysis. Findings show that emotional attachment to sacred landscapes significantly enhances community participation in heritage governance and tourism initiatives. Empowerment fosters sustainability awareness, cultural stewardship, and intergenerational value transmission. The proposed Living Heritage Participation Model emphasizes co-creation, shared responsibility, and participatory governance as key to culturally sustainable tourism. Comparative insights from Luang Prabang (Laos) and Kyoto (Japan) highlight the need to embed heritage practices within local socio-cultural systems. Statistical analysis confirms emotional attachment as a mediator between engagement and sustainability outcomes (? = 0.42, ? = 0.46), validating the model’s empirical and theoretical relevance. The study contributes to global discourse by positioning community agency at the center of heritage-based tourism and advancing understanding of intangible cultural sustainability in non-Western spiritual landscapes.