Responsible Leadership for Sustainable Agritourism: A Multilevel Causal Mechanism Analysis and the Facilitating Roles of Social Capital

ABSTRACT This study investigates the causal mechanisms by which responsible leadership (RL) promotes sustainable agritourism development in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Using focus groups and multiple case studies across five exemplary agritourism operations, we examine how RL operates across multiple levels to influence sustainable agritourism outcomes. Through interviews with leaders and stakeholders, we identified three interconnected causal mechanisms: the cultural–ecological embedding mechanism, the social capital mobilization mechanism, and the agritourism transformation mechanism. Our findings reveal that social capital functions as an activator, connector, and constructor within these mechanisms, particularly compensating for underdeveloped institutional frameworks. The research provides mechanism‐based explanations of how RL emerges and functions across analytical levels, offering context‐specific insights into how RL mechanisms manifest in a non‐Western emerging economy and illuminating how individual leadership practices generate broader societal outcomes. These insights offer practical guidance for developing sustainable agritourism initiatives that preserve cultural and environmental integrity while supporting rural economic diversification aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.