Reframing cruise tourism competitiveness: The role of climate resilience in emerging urban ports

Cruise tourism competitiveness is often evaluated without considering climate resilience, leaving a critical knowledge gap as climate change increasingly disrupts urban port cities. This issue is particularly urgent for emerging cruise hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), which faces both significant climate risks and intensifying regional competition. To address this, the study reframes competitiveness through a climate-resilience lens, drawing on insights from destination competitiveness theory and adaptive governance. A qualitative case study was conducted using 27 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, complemented by field observations and document analysis. Findings reveal three key dynamics: first, fragmented governance hampers coordinated responses to climate threats; second, grassroots and operator-led initiatives are emerging to address adaptation gaps; and third, resilience is increasingly perceived not merely as a defensive cost but as a potential source of competitive advantage and branding. The study concludes that climate resilience is a fundamental pillar of contemporary destination competitiveness. Theoretically, it introduces a logic model that links climate risks, adaptive mechanisms, and competitive outcomes. Practically, it highlights the importance of polycentric governance, digital risk management tools, and embedding resilience indicators into port evaluation and branding strategies. These insights contribute to advancing both academic understanding and practical approaches to positioning HCMC as a climate-resilient cruise destination.