Applying network analysis in assessing stakeholders' collaboration for sustainable tourism development: a case study at Danang, Vietnam

Network analysis plays an important role in studying stakeholders' collaboration in tourism destinations. This research applies network analysis using empirical survey data collected at Danang, Vietnam to understand multidimensional relationships among different stakeholders in the three strategic sectors: public sector, tourism industry and local community for the sustainable development of tourism destinations. The results show the loose relationships among different stakeholders at this destination; relationships among stakeholders in the tourism industry are stronger than those in other two sectors; the linkage between the tourism industry and the local community is stronger than those of other sectors, and the tourism industry plays the centrality role in this destination network. The paper also provides discussions on stakeholders' collaboration and the need for a centrality role of the public sector in the network in order to achieve sustainable development for tourism destinations.