The impact of corporate social responsibility on sustainable tourism development at tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta

This study examines the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) dimensions on sustainable tourism development at tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta. The research employs the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method using a two-stage approach to analyze data collected from a sample of 320 tourists who had previously visited destinations across six provinces in the Mekong Delta: Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Can Tho, Kien Giang, and An Giang. The data analysis results indicate that all proposed hypotheses are supported, except for the impact of legal responsibility on sustainable tourism development in the region. Moreover, the findings reveal that tourist satisfaction plays a mediating role in the relationship between ethical responsibility, economic responsibility, and philanthropic responsibility with sustainable tourism development in the Mekong Delta. In contrast, the mediating role of tourist satisfaction in the relationship between legal responsibility and sustainable tourism development is not supported. These findings provide useful insights for tourism managers, travel companies, and local authorities to reassess their strategic framework, identify key drivers, and determine effective approaches to enhance the tourism sector’s performance in the Mekong Delta. Consequently, the study suggests appropriate and practical policies and strategies to promote the sustainable development of tourism in the region.