The role of public–private partnerships in the development of agritourism: the case of Vinh Long, Vietnam

This study explores the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in advancing agritourism in Vinh Long Province, located in Vietnam’s agriculturally rich Mekong Delta. Despite its abundant natural and cultural resources, the region has not fully capitalized on agritourism as a viable economic sector. Employing a qualitative case study approach, this research draws on 46 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, including government officials, agritourism business owners, travel companies, tour guides, and tourists. The participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure relevant and informed perspectives. Data were collected through fieldwork conducted between 2021 and 2023 and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key challenges and opportunities in PPPs implementation. The findings reveal that while PPPs have strong potential for agritourism development, particularly in infrastructure, marketing, and community engagement, barriers such as policy ambiguity, communication gaps, and weak local participation persist. This study contributes to the literature by offering context-specific insights into PPPs dynamics in rural tourism settings. It also suggests practical strategies to improve PPP effectiveness in similar developing regions. Limitations include potential bias due to interviewees’ hesitation in discussing policy matters and the study’s focus on a single province, which may affect generalizability.