This study aims to explore the impact of residents’ destination social responsibility (DSR) perception, sustainable intelligence, and empowerment on the support for sustainable tourism development (SSTD) at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam...
This study aims to explore the impact of residents’ destination social responsibility (DSR) perception, sustainable intelligence, and empowerment on the support for sustainable tourism development (SSTD) at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam. By applying empowerment theory and the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model, this research examines the relationships between DSR, empowerment, and SSTD, while also testing the mediating of empowerment in the relationship between sustainable intelligence and SSTD. Using the PLS-SEM method, the results reveal that DSR positively influenced all five aspects of empowerment: economic, environmental, social, political, and psychological. Furthermore, sustainable intelligence positively affected four aspects of empowerment, excluding political empowerment, and also positively influenced support for sustainable tourism development. The study demonstrates the significant mediating role of empowerment in the relationship between sustainable intelligence and SSTD, highlighting its importance in fostering positive attitudes and commitment among local residents to participate in sustainable activities. Finally, among the five aspects of empowerment, four were found to positively affect SSTD. These findings contribute to the theoretical foundation of sustainable tourism and provide practical implications for enhancing community engagement in the sustainable management and development of environmentally sensitive destinations.