Sustainable agritourism monitoring: An expert Delphi study on provincial-level indicators in Vietnam

Despite agritourism’s potential, the lack of a standardized and context-specific sustainability monitoring framework limits the effection of policy and management in Vietnam. This study addresses the lack of validated provincial-level indicators related to local socio-economic and environmental contexts. Using the Expert Delphi method, we developed a comprehensive indicator framework for establishing a structured and measurable approach to monitoring the development of agritourism, ensuring long-term sustainability while maximizing economic, socio-cultural and environmental benefits. The Expert Delphi technique facilitates the development of a rigorous, consensus-driven set of sustainability indicators, ensuring both practical applicability and scientific reliability. The expert panel comprised 23 members with multidisciplinary backgrounds in agritourism, including 60.87 % are middle managers from universities and research institutes and 39.13 % are senior managers and researchers from academic institutions and the private sector. Most of experts have both theoretical expertise and practical experience (65.22 %). The panel’s diverse knowledge base and professional backgrounds provided a solid foundation for iterative questionnaire evaluation throughout the Delphi process. Through three rounds of expert discussions and evaluations, a consensus is reached on a final set of 46 sustainability indicators, systematically categorized into five fundamental dimensions: Economic (economic benefits, seasonality, jobs, competitiveness of enterprises …), Social (the impact on local communities and visitors, local community's awareness, security and safety, gender equality, child labour …), Environmental (protection and rational use, surrounding environment quality, waste management, promoting green and circular economy …), Cultural (legal basis, conservation and development, communication, the integrity and authenticity …) and Governance (marketing, diversification of products and services, digital transformation, green productivity …). This structured framework offers a comprehensive mechanism for assessing agritourism sustainability, encompassing economic viability, cultural heritage preservation, environmental conservation and governance effectiveness. By aligning the proposed framework with existing rural development strategies, this study contributes to a coordinated, evidence-based approach that strengthens the sustainability, resilience and economic viability of Vietnam’s agritourism sector.