Heritage Conservation and Tourism Development at Cham Sacred Sites in Vietnam: Living Heritage Has a Heart

This open access book considers the growing field of heritage tourism from community perspectives. It explores how the Cham--Vietnam’s large ethnic minority--reconcile their needs for economic development with the boundaries circumscribed by their traditional culture. It examines struggles that local minority stakeholders like the Cham face when trying to participate in areas of development that typically fall under State control. How will tourism affect the ancient sacred spaces that are the Cham’s lifeblood? In what areas is their participation permitted? From what areas are they excluded? Through a novel mix of indigenous methods, participant observation, local voices, and rich ethnographic description, this book provides a rare glimpse into the discourses that have been percolating throughout the community in recent years. The relevance of this study extends beyond the Cham community, and aims to resonate with experiences of the myriad indigenous and minority communities around the world who face similar issues with heritage conservation and tourism development. This book is of interest to students and researchers of heritage studies, tourism management, cultural studies, Asian studies, as well as policymakers, and academicians seeking current research on the connections between culture, conservation, sustainable development, and tourism.

Dr. Quang Dai Tuyen, also known as Isvan in Cham language, is an accomplished expert in the field of Cultural Anthropology, heritage tourism, sustainable tourism and responsible tourism. He received a Master’s degree in Applied Anthropology from the University of Hawaii-Manoa (USA) and a Doctorate in Anthropology focused on Heritage tourism management from the University of Queensland, Australia. With over a decade of experience as a researcher at the Cham Cultural Research Center and as a lecturer and researcher at prestigious universities in the field of tourism and hospitality, such as Hoa Sen University, Van Lang University, Hutech University, and University of Technology, he has demonstrated exceptional knowledge and expertise.

Dr. Isvan has authored numerous publications in national and international journals on these topics, reflecting his deep commitment to preserving and promoting the Cham ethnic group’s culture. He is also passionate about building a network of young Vietnamese Anthropologists club and Vietnam Tourism Research Network to support research consultations, facilitate connections, and collaborate on international publications.
In his hometown of Ninh Thuan, Dr. Tuyen has dedicated himself to building a model of cultural tourism that leverages indigenous resources for tourism development, generating economic opportunities for the Cham community while preserving their cultural heritage. Dr. Isvan is an accomplished scholar whose expertise and passion for cultural preservation and sustainable tourism make him an exceptional asset to the Cham community and the wider academic and tourism sectors in Vietnam.