Revealing Ecotourism Potential of Streams and Waterfalls: Identification of Influential Factors in a Case Study from Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam

Ecotourism is recognized as a fundamental aspect of sustainable tourism development. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing ecotourism in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam, specifically focusing on streams and waterfalls, using an ecotourism potential model. This model utilizes quantitative approaches, incorporating questionnaires and spatial information, including remote sensing data. The model is employed to determine the factors affecting ecotourism potential in the 31 locations of streams and waterfalls in Thua Thien Hue province. The model considers ecotourism potential as the dependent variable, while the independent variables are greenness using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), connectivity, accessibility, and infrastructure, e.g., restaurants and hotels. The results revealed that greenness has the most significant positive impact on ecotourism potential around streams and waterfalls in Thua Thien Hue province, followed by accessibility, restaurants, and hotels, while connectivity has a negative impact on ecotourism potential in these areas. This analysis underscores the importance of prioritizing the conservation of natural environments and ecosystems surrounding streams and waterfalls. Furthermore, this study utilizes geospatial methodologies to identify and enhance our understanding of the key factors influencing ecotourism.