Transitioning from Reactive to Supportive Governance: TheRole of Diving Tour Operators in Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area (Vietnam)

Despite the ecological significance of the Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area (NTB MPA), the diving tourism industry faces a trajectory of stagnation following the severe ecological crisis in 2020. This study employs the Scuba Diving Tourism System (SDTS) framework to investigate the governance gap between policymakers and diving tour operators (DTOs), aiming to identify pathways for sustainable rejuvenations. Using an exploratory qualitative approach, the researcher conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews over an 18-month period with 14 professional diving experts, including operators and guides. The data were analyzed through thematic interpretation to explore stakeholder perceptions of current legislative frameworks. The findings reveal a sharp dichotomy between responsible operators acting as environmental stewards and budget-conscious businesses engaged in predatory price wars. Current top-down governance fails to address core market failures, such as unfair competition and inadequate monitoring of non-compliant facilities, while restrictive zoning creates a "conservation paradox" by exacerbating overcrowding at the remaining accessible sites..