Tourism Industry Fragmented on Sustainability—New Framework Could Unite It
A new academic framework shows how tourism can learn from broader sustainability transformation theory to drive real change across a notoriously fragmented industry. The approach bridges decades of sustainable tourism research with proven transition models, offering policymakers and operators a roadmap to coordinate efforts that have historically failed due to lack of coordination.
Originaltitel: Sustainability transitions in tourism: on the transformation of a fragmented sector
<p>This conceptual paper argues that there are unrealized benefits from a cross-fertilization between research on sustainable tourism and sustainability transitions studies. With the aim to stimulate such cross-fertilization, the paper identifies three contemporary streams in sustainability transitions studies that are particularly relevant for sustainable tourism: deep transitions, transitions in practice, and the geography of transitions. These three streams present complementary perspectives, which can help reach a more nuanced understanding of transition processes in the tourism sector. The paper concludes that while research on sustainable tourism can benefit from theories, concepts, and frameworks from research on sustainability transitions, research on sustainable tourism can support further conceptual developments in sustainability transitions studies. </p>