Determine the Weight of Each Evaluation Criteria Using Ahp

4.3.2. Determine the weight of each evaluation criterion using AHP

Among the various multi-criteria analysis (MCDA) techniques, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) has been widely used in natural resource and environmental management. AHP is used to determine the weights of thematic classes (Saaty, 1980) and is used for decision making in which a problem is divided into different parameters, arranged in a hierarchical structure to make judgments about the relative importance of pairs of factors and summarize the results (Saaty 1999, 2004). For this analysis, nine thematic classes of visibility, forest status, protection level, slope, elevation, road accessibility, distance to tourist sites, and surface water accessibility were considered.

The results of the comparison of pairs based on expert opinions and reference documents are presented in Appendix 2. The results of the weight calculation for each factor are presented in Appendix 3.

From the data in Appendix 3, the topic calculates the parameters including the consistency index (CI), random index (RI) and consistency ratio (CR). The results are presented in Table 4.13.

Table 4.13. Indicator parameters

Parameter

Value
Consistency Index (CI)	0.12
Random Index (RI)	1.45
Consistency Ratio (CR)	0.08

Maybe you are interested!

The results from table 4.13 show that the consistency ratio CR is 0.08 which is less than 0.1 so it is acceptable.

4.3.3. Building a map of ecotourism potential

The map of potential ecotourism areas in Cat Ba National Park was built based on GIS application and the weight of thematic layers. The results of very suitable, suitable and less suitable areas are presented in table 4.14 and figure 4.46.

Table 4. 14. Results of assessing the potential for ecotourism in Cat Ba National Park

Classify

Result value Evaluate	Area (ha)	Rate (%)
Not suitable	0 - 1	0	0.0
Less suitable	1 - 2	7,242.90	41.7
Fits just right	2 - 3	9,676.04	55.7
High fit	3 - 4	444.02	2.6
Total		17,362.96	100

The results from Table 4.14 and Figure 4.46 show that the project has identified 3 potential areas for ecotourism in Cat Ba National Park. The highly suitable area accounts for about 444.02 ha (2.6%), the total area of the National Park. More than half of the area of 9,676.04 ha (55.7%) of the National Park is suitable. The less suitable area is 7,242.90 ha (41.7%).

4.4. Community awareness and attitude towards ecotourism development and biodiversity conservation

4.4.1. Demographic characteristics

The investigation of demographic characteristics is extremely important in the research of the topic. The number of questionnaires expected to be conducted with local people is 155 (n=155). Through this, we can see the characteristics of labor gender, distribution of people by age group, main ethnic groups, community members by occupational groups... in Cat Ba National Park. Demographic characteristics are presented specifically in Table 4.15.

135

Figure 4. 46. Map of ecotourism potential in Cat Ba National Park

Source: Le Thi Ngan, 2021

Table 4.15. Sociological profile of interviewees

Characteristic

Number	Percentage
Gender (n=155)
Male	96	62
Female	59	38
Age (n=155)
15 – 25	8	5.16
25 – 35	35	22.58
35 – 45	41	26.45
45 – 55	43	27.4
55 – 65	19	12.26
>65	9	5.81
Ethnicity (n=155)
Terrible	155	100
Other	0	0
Occupation (n=155)
Tourism activities	32	20.65
Agriculture	26	16.77
State	33	21.9
Housewife	5	3.23
Work for hire	11	7.1
Free	38	24.52
Retirement	5	3.23
Other	5	3.23
Education level (n=155)
Below the common	20	13
12/12	80	52
College, university	55	35

The analysis of sociological characteristics of the interviewees is presented in Table 4.15 with 155 people surveyed. In terms of gender, men accounted for more than 96/155 people, accounting for 62%, women accounted for less than 59/155 people, accounting for 38% of the total number of respondents. The majority of respondents were of working age, 146/155 people, accounting for 94.19%, of which 54.2% were young workers under 45 years old, which proves that the majority of people coming to ecotourism activities are young workers and can also be explained by the fact that ecotourism here is in a strong development stage, along with the development of ecotourism activities of the people, which is gradually attracting young people to participate. In terms of religion, 100% of the interviewees were Kinh ethnic group. In terms of education level, 100% of respondents were literate, 13% had less than high school education, 52% had 12/12, and only 32% had college or university degrees. In terms of occupation, the number of people who were self-employed accounted for the highest percentage at 24.52%. Next was the number of people working for the government at 21.59%. The number of people participating in tourism activities in Cat Ba National Park accounted for about 20.65% of the total number of people interviewed. Some occupations such as housewives, retired people, and other jobs accounted for the lowest percentage at about 3.23%.

4.4.2. Level of community participation in ecotourism activities

4.4.2.1. Level of community participation in local ecotourism development

The author uses the Pretty scale to measure the level of community participation in local ecotourism development, from the lowest level of non-participation to the highest level of real participation with a questionnaire designed with check boxes for each level. Accordingly, the surveyor will guide people to select only their highest level of participation to avoid duplication in responses. The author uses software to analyze descriptive statistics and analyze the frequency of each level of participation. The results of data processing on the level of community participation in local ecotourism development are presented in (Figure 4.47).

Level 7

Level 6

Level 5

Level 4

9.3%

Level 3

9.3%

Level 2

12.5%

Level 1

15.6%

12.5%

28.1%

Figure 4.47. Level of community participation in local ecotourism development

- Level 1: The community is informed about tourism development but does not participate in giving opinions.

- Level 2: The community provides information or answers questions related to the development of local tourism services when consulted by external agencies and organizations, but this information is not responded to or checked.

- Level 3: The community is consulted on ecotourism development but does not participate in the decision-making process.

- Level 4: The community participates in working in tourism businesses; providing goods and food for businesses; providing tourism services spontaneously.

- Level 5: The community participates in management groups; art groups, culinary groups, guidance groups, local specialty production groups under the supervision of the government or external organizations.

- Level 6: The community owns tourism businesses, participates in the analysis and planning process, and contributes to decision-making related to the development of local tourism services.

- Level 7: The community takes the initiative and proactively seeks outside help, retains control, makes decisions, invests in and expands tourism businesses.

The interview results showed that a total of 32 people said they were participating in tourism activities at 7 different levels. In general, the community in Cat Ba National Park is mostly participating at a passive level, not autonomously, specifically:

- The results show that 28.1% of people participate in tourism activities at level 1, the largest of the 7 levels. This is a passive level, the community depends heavily on the government or organization, and has no autonomy in tourism development. Most of the participants at level 1 are single-family tourism businesses, ranging from individuals to families. The investment capital is small, spontaneous, and depends on the family's inherent conditions, with little expansion investment.

- Levels 2, 3, 4, and 5 have a fairly even number of participants, from 12.5% to 15.6%. Initially, Cat Ba National Park ecotourism is developing well, and the community is gradually being given more rights in participating in contributing to the overall tourism development of the locality. This also shows that the level and skills of the people in tourism are increasingly improving, this factor is very important in developing community-based tourism.

- The participation level at level 6 and level 7 accounts for the lowest rate with 9.3% for both levels. This shows that the community actively participating in tourism has limited financial autonomy and the right to decide on the development direction for business activities.

4.4.2.2.Tourism service provision activities

People's participation in the food service sector is quite high at 37%. Right after that is the motel business with 28%.

Next are some other types of services accounting for 14%. The tour guide type is still quite low with only 12% of people participating. Finally, the lowest is the souvenir selling type accounting for only 9%.

Service provision activities

tourism

Instruct

Motel business 28%

Other 14%

12% tourist

Food service 37%

Souvenir sales 9%

Figure 4.48. Diagram of community tourism service provision activities

Although there has been participation of local people in ecotourism activities, these activities are still insignificant compared to the actual potential, but initially it has made people aware of the benefits from these ecotourism activities.

In general, local people living in Cat Ba National Park tend to prioritize tourism-related occupations to ensure their household livelihoods and take advantage of local natural resources. However, these services are mostly spontaneous and copy each other in form. This results in a lack of professionalism in service provision. In addition, in small-scale private guesthouses and restaurants, which are mainly family-run, labor fluctuates frequently due to the seasonality of the tourism business.

4.4.3. Community awareness of the benefits of ecotourism

Community awareness of ecotourism activities is an important factor promoting ecotourism development as well as biodiversity protection in Cat Ba National Park.

Comment