sustainability

Review
Progress in Sustainable Tourism Research: An Analysis of the
Comprehensive Literature and Future Research Directions
Yuetao Yang 1 , Gowhar Ahmad Wani 2 , V. Nagaraj 2 , Mohammad Haseeb 3, *, Sameer Sultan 4 ,
Md. Emran Hossain 5, * , Mustafa Kamal 6 and Syed Mehmood Raza Shah 7

1 School of Law, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai 200437, China
2 School of Economics, Central University of Kerala, Chalingal 671316, Kerala, India
3 China Institute of Development Strategy and Planning, and Center for Industrial Economics, Wuhan
University, Wuhan 430072, China
4 Tourism and Hospitality Management, Jammia Millia Islammia, New Delhi 110025, Delhi, India
5 Department of Agricultural Finance and Banking, Bangladesh Agricultural University,
Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
6 Department of Basic Sciences, College of Science and Theoretical Studies, Saudi Electronic University,
Dammam 32256, Saudi Arabia
7 School of Finance, Dongbei University of Finance of Economics, Dalian 116025, China
* Correspondence: haseeb.ecb@gmail.com (M.H.); emranaerd@gmail.com (M.E.H.)

Abstract: Sustainable tourism must maintain a high level of customer satisfaction, raise awareness of
sustainability concerns, and spread sustainable tourism practices among them. Several earlier studies
have measured sustainable tourism in various regions of the world, but a thorough review of it is rare.
Thus, the study is founded on a comprehensive literature review to evaluate the current research
level and to provide guidelines for future research on sustainable tourism. The paper’s first section
clarifies and analyzes a broad overview of existing studies. While a tabulated presentation of studies,
which consists of the author, significant objectives, methods, and critical results, is broadly given in
the second part. The third part of the study highlights the critical analysis of the existing literature
on sustainable tourism and research gaps. This study makes a significant positive contribution to
sustainable tourism research. It is beneficial for aspiring researchers conducting subsequent research
Citation: Yang, Y.; Wani, G.A.;
studies since it offers a research pathway to advance the field’s literature. The broad domains of
Nagaraj, V.; Haseeb, M.; Sultan, S.;
sustainability, issues related to sustainable infrastructure and services, livelihood, and management
Hossain, M.E.; Kamal, M.; Shah,
of tourism destinations are the critical areas that scientific research studies could further explore. The
S.M.R. Progress in Sustainable
Tourism Research: An Analysis of the results of this study show that most studies lack depth in proper analysis, methodology, geographical
Comprehensive Literature and variances, empirical analysis, and real-world application.
Future Research Directions.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755. https:// Keywords: sustainable tourism; literature review; critical analysis and gaps; tourism research;
doi.org/10.3390/su15032755 tourism management

Academic Editor: Erdogan Koc

Received: 7 December 2022

Revised: 17 January 2023 1. Introduction
Accepted: 31 January 2023
One of the most innovative and dynamic industries in the world is tourism. Planning
Published: 2 February 2023
and developing tourism responsibly requires balancing the needs of society’s environmen-
tal, economic, and social sectors [1]. In this context, sustainable tourism comes into mind,
uplifting consumer satisfaction and environmental and social benefits. Environmental
Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
concerns at popular tourist destinations have brought sustainable tourism to light, which
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. is an outgrowth of sustainable development. The main goals of sustainable development
This article is an open access article were to safeguard the environment from harmful externalities of development and to
distributed under the terms and ensure environmental preservation, community involvement, and other advantages. The
conditions of the Creative Commons idea of sustainable tourism did not emerge until the 1990s, emphasizing the growth of
Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// tourism sustainably rather than mass tourism [2,3]. Consequently, sustainable tourism is
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ a part of sustainable development in the context of the tourism sector. Its core agenda is
4.0/). preserving the environment, economic benefits, and sociocultural protection.

Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032755 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability

Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 2 of 15

Sustainable tourism is defined as “meeting the needs of present tourists and the
host community while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It ensures
that resources are managed to satisfy economic, social, and aesthetic requirements while
preserving cultural integrity, crucial ecological processes, biological diversity, and life
support systems [4]. Hunter and Green [5] defined it as “tourism development that seeks
to safeguard and improve the quality of the tourist experience at destinations through the
environmental quality and tourism activity.” Middleton and Hawkins [6] focus on balancing
environmental quality and tourism activity. As per UNWTO [7], “sustainability principles
refer to ”environmental, economic, and sociocultural aspects of tourism development and
a suitable balance must be established among these three dimensions to guarantee its
long-term sustainability”.
Worldwide tourist attractions are presently coping with several environmental con-
cerns [8]. Poor road and transportation systems, public utilities, solid waste management,
sewage treatment, security, and governance are significant causes of sustainability issues.
The fundamental components and caliber of service the tourism industry offers are closely
related to sustainability issues. Useless waste and sewage treatment result from subpar
performance and inadequate facilities, compromising the destination’s sustainability [9].
Adequate management of tourism potential and protection of the pristine environment
is indispensable. Tourism resources can debase destinations’ image and threaten long-term
sustenance if not appropriately administered. The features facing a threat from tourism
growth primarily are landscape, water bodies, and aquatic life [10,11]. Consequently,
appropriate management and the correct agenda for tourism development are obligatory.
Otherwise, negative externalities may distract balance and trim down the flow of tourists
in the future. “Mismanagement of Himalayan tourism has created massive confront related
to solid waste, water, traffic, loss of biodiversity, etc. Binding actions will be necessary to
deal with serious waste management concerns, water crises, and other environmental and
social issues” [12].
The advantages of tourism ought to come from a sustainable paradigm, and expansion
ought to be consistent and uninterrupted. Low cost can be an excellent chance for service
providers; however, inattention to the environment and tourism resources does not guaran-
tee the future performance of destinations [13]. Therefore, decision-making should focus
on preserving the environment and culture and ensuring long-term economic benefits.
The effective use of a sustainable tourism plan maintains the harmony of the dimensions,
fosters brand loyalty, and encourages return trips to tourist destinations. There is a positive
and significant effect of sustainable tourism’s environmental, economic, sociocultural, and
institutional dimensions on tourists’ satisfaction [14]. As a result, dimensions of sustainable
tourism must be considered as part of a holistic approach to planning and monitoring
tourism development.
Around the globe, mass tourism has brought negative externalities and continues to
produce sustainability issues. Examples are biodiversity loss, pollution, resource overuse,
and excess carrying capacity. It degrades pure environments and puts strain on resources’
ability to perform. Unrestrained mass tourist activities would probably ruin the appeal
of goods and constitute a danger to tourism in the future. Promoting sustainable tourism
in this setting is a significant task for the global community, especially for nations with
abundant natural resources.
Nevertheless, if stakeholders embrace sustainable practices and pursue sustainable
tourism techniques, economic development and conservation tourism destinations may
coexist harmoniously. Adopting sustainable tourism is undoubtedly difficult and expensive
for countries, and its promotion is beneficial to safeguard the uniqueness and quality of
products. Therefore, it is important to carefully assess tourism-related goods and locations
to determine their sustainability level.
Despite extensive study in this field, sustainable tourism development is a dynamic
process that continuously faces new difficulties as applicable technology and tourist-related
consumption patterns evolve. As a result, research has been carried out on various aspects
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 3 of 15

of sustainable tourism and this is continuous. Studies focused on the origination of sustain-
able tourism, theoretical underpinnings, issues and challenges, initiatives, and strategies.
In the second phase, researchers tried to develop a suitable methodology for dimensions
and indicators applicable at the national and regional levels. Sustainability indicators are
intended to provide reliable data on the indicators and dimensions of sustainable tourism.
However, studies related to sustainable tourism reveal numerous limitations and need
further exploration and scientific analysis [15]. Moreover, what are the contemporary
potentialities for sustainable tourism in conjunction with the competitiveness of a tourist
industry that are constantly of interest to scientific researchers? To examine regions covered
by researchers and areas that have not yet been studied, the present study reviewed and
analyzed the body of literature already in existence on sustainable tourism. The primary
goal is to investigate gaps in the reviewed research and potential areas for further study.
The research is timely because it addresses the significant progress of sustainable tourism
that has emerged due to the tourism industry’s rapid growth. There is currently a dearth of
sustainability because this fast expansion has led to unsustainable tourism activities, and
this paper explores those issues. The study’s contribution is anticipated to be helpful and
serve as a foundation for more research.

2. Methodology
The key objective of this paper is to study uncovered areas in interdisciplinary sustain-
able tourism research and lay a strong foundation for future inquiries. A systematic review
method has been taken into consideration to classify the subject matter of sustainable
tourism research into three major categories, including (a) development and dimensions
of sustainable tourism, (b) issues, challenges, and needs of sustainable tourism, (c) sus-
tainable tourism practices and measurement. For this rationale, many databases were
investigated to gain a clear idea of the research gaps, consistency, and representativeness of
the domino effect. Standard databases, terminology, and popularity of articles via citations
are utilized to select articles for review purposes. Articles were taken from journals from
well-recognized publishers, Elsevier, Routledge, Emerald, Springer, MDPI, Wiley, and
SAGE, as well as journals indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and ABDC, which are well-
recognized journal indexing sites. We searched through Google Scholar, Web of Science,
Scopus, and Science Direct databases while looking for online sources. However, it should
be kept in mind that no database, not even Scopus and Web of Science, is exhaustive or
error-free [16]. To locate publications connected to sustainable tourism, this study also con-
ducted a manual search of several well-known sources, including Science Direct, PubMed,
and Springer-Link as electronic databases, as well as the advanced search feature of Google
Scholar. When searching and choosing the articles, only English was offered. To generate
results based on specific characteristics and content of sustainable tourism, highly pertinent
papers published between 1990 and 2021 have been chosen. Relevant studies are sorted out
by date, journal, subject matter, highness of contents, focus, and conclusions. Nevertheless,
this study excludes papers directly or indirectly unrelated to sustainable tourism’s main
contents, features, and dimensions. The articles in Beall’s listed predatory publishers and
journals were avoided.
Table 1 lists the terms employed in this study’s literature search. The following factors
were taken into consideration when searching the literature:
a. Is the article’s language English? Since English is the most accepted language for
academic writing worldwide, we have chosen it;
b. Are the articles prepared from the standpoint of sustainable tourism?;
c. Is the paper published in Beall’s predatory journals? Since it contains a vast dataset re-
garding the protentional predatory journals and publishers, we have solely depended
on excluding articles from predatory journals;
d. Is the article published between 1990 and 2021? This period contains the largest
amount of publications on sustainable tourism arguments;
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 4 of 15

e. Are the articles focused on the development, dimensions of tourism, issues, chal-
lenges, need, practices, and measurement of sustainable tourism?;
f. What are the concluding statements of the paper? The concluding remarks of the
paper highlight the key messages of the research.

Table 1. Database search string.

Database Search String

(“tourism development” OR “development in tourism”
OR “sustainable tourism” OR “sustainability in tourism”
OR “tourism management” OR “sustainable tourism
Google Scholar
dimension” OR “sustainable tourism measures” OR
(“Issues” OR “Challenges” OR “Need” OR “Practices”)
AND (“Sustainable tourism”))
(“tourism development” OR “development in tourism”
OR “sustainable tourism” OR “sustainability in tourism”
OR “tourism management” OR “sustainable tourism
Scopus
dimension” OR “sustainable tourism measures” OR
(“Issues” OR “Challanges” OR “Need” OR “Practices”)
AND (“Sustainable tourism”))
(“tourism development” OR “development in tourism”
OR “sustainable tourism” OR “sustainability in tourism”
OR “tourism management” OR “sustainable tourism
Web of Science
dimension” OR “sustainable tourism measures” OR
(“Issues” OR “Challanges” OR “Need” OR “Practices”)
AND (“Sustainable tourism”))
(“tourism development” OR “development in tourism”
OR “sustainable tourism” OR “sustainability in tourism”
OR “tourism management” OR “sustainable tourism
Science Direct
dimension” OR “sustainable tourism measures” OR
(“Issues” OR “Challanges” OR “Need” OR “Practices”)
AND (“Sustainable tourism”))

The systematic literature review procedure’s initial phase involved selecting relevant
publications through database searches. The duplicate articles were later deleted. The
screening procedure’s main goal was to eliminate duplicate articles and studies that did
not meet the criteria for inclusion. To achieve the study’s goals, the abstracts and text of
each manuscript were carefully examined at this point. Once the abstracts and contents
were reviewed, 53 publications were ultimately selected for this study.

3. A Comprehensive Review of the Relevant Studies

3.1. Development and Dimensions of Sustainable Tourism
Due to the negative consequences of growth on the environment, sustainable devel-
opment gradually gained momentum starting in the 1960s, and its actual necessity and
relevance became apparent in the 1970s. In 1980, the International Union for Conservation
of Nature and Natural Resources published the ‘World Conservation Strategy’. Based on
this, the Bruntland Commission established the full-fledged version of sustainable devel-
opment in 1987. During the 1990s, the concept of sustainable tourism emerged among
the international tourism community focusing on the sustainable development of tourism
instead of mass tourism, and obtained the concept of sustainable tourism by establishing a
sustainable development framework [2,17,18]. Consequently, sustainable tourism is deeply
rooted and originated from the idea of sustainable development and prevailed before
its formal origination in terms of conservation, community involvement, and economic
benefits [3].
Sustainable tourism was developed with the primary goals of involving the stake-
holders in environmental protection, local cultural preservation, and benefiting the host
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 5 of 15

community. As a result, it became the central theme of international conferences, work-

shops, and meetings, and the experts elaborated on its importance and caught the world’s
attention. It has been revealed that it can be utilized as a strategy for community de-
velopment and eliminating poverty in developing countries [19–22]. A primary focus of
sustainable tourism was to tackle challenges, such as carrying capacity, environmental insur-
gencies, and other problems [17]. However, the area of sustainable tourism was extended
and incorporated multidisciplinary research analyses, such as the impact of sustainable
tourism on quality of life, rural tourism, satisfaction, the role of local entrepreneurship,
sustainable practices and initiatives, and geographical perspectives [11,23–27].

3.2. Issues, Challenges, and Needs of Sustainable Tourism

The environment works with lodging, transportation, cuisine, and other services
to operate as the primary source for the tourism business. The growth of mass tourism
fuels destructive environmental uprisings and opens the door to disastrous outcomes.
Unquestionably, it provided exports, jobs, and wealth to underdeveloped nations. How-
ever, rapid expansion hurts the environment and the resources available for tourism in
certain places [10,28,29]. Adverse environmental effects, such as emissions, overpopulation,
excessive use of natural resources, and high trash output, severely harm the ecosystem and
biodiversity in prospective tourism-producing countries [30–34].
It is extensively recognized that at the beginning of the tourism progression, na-
tions tried to sustain tourism in terms of tourist influx and economic benefits rather than
promoting sustainable tourism at destinations [35,36]. For instance, the government of
India focused on sustainable tourism initiatives belatedly and framed criteria solely fit
for hoteliers, tour operators, and tourism organizations. Consequently, tourism ranking
continuously improved, and environmental sustainability implied a downward trend over
the years [37]. Inadequate infrastructure, poor service quality, unhygienic conditions, and
insufficiently skilled workforce are unsustainability causes. As a result, the intensifica-
tion of tourism infrastructure, scientific encroachment, and skilled labor force availability
are treated as indispensable. In addition, “effective strategies must be developed and
implemented in cooperation with all stakeholders to achieve sustainable tourism goals [9]”.
The same has been endorsed by studies conducted by researchers in other nations.
According to a model of 4Es (economic, efficiency, effectiveness, and environment), the
primary reasons for the low performance of sustainable tourism includes deficient green lo-
gistics, public utilities, insufficient road infrastructure, increasing air pollution, inadequate
sewage treatment plants, and others [38,39]. Adequate infrastructure and better service
quality helped Malaysia to downsize its sustainability issues. However, Indonesia faced
sustainability issues due to infrastructure deficiency and lack of services, thereby creating
sustainability issues in Thailand [40].

3.3. Sustainable Tourism Practices and Measurement

The current situation sees nations worldwide focusing on sustainable tourism projects
and practices. However, the main hurdle in implementing sustainable tourism is that the
connotation is not clearly understood, and the same has been reflected in substandard
tourism practices. To guarantee that the evaluation of sustainable tourism is based on valid
criteria, conceptual and practical clarity is required [41–43]. The lack of reality, measure-
ment, and advanced methods has created hurdles to measuring sustainable tourism at
destinations and therefore requires advanced benchmarking tools [44,45]. At the local level,
indicators of sustainable tourism can assess the performance of sustainability dynamics,
tourism management, and planning but have been hampered by technical difficulties and
planning instruments [46–48].
The origin of sustainable tourism asserts that it came into being due to the environ-
mental issues at tourist destinations. However, the concept of sustainable tourism also
incorporated other dimensions over time. Furthermore, researchers have found that the
other dimensions significantly affect the functioning and execution of sustainable tourism.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 6 of 15

It is propounded that the influence of the dimensions of sustainable tourism to understand

tourists’ satisfaction varies according to context and situations [49]. All four dimensions
of the PRISM of sustainability (environmental, economic, sociocultural, and institutional)
explained a 45 percent variance in predicting residents’ satisfaction. However, in terms
of relative significance, the institutional dimension is the most vital, followed by envi-
ronmental, economic, and sociocultural dimensions [50–52]. So, strengthening the role of
institutions is significant for adopting sustainable tourism at destinations [53,54].
Sustainable tourism issues differ among the regions and require region-specific di-
mensions and indicators. In addition, models and frameworks inferred that the indicators
must be relevant to sustainable tourism and have a logical and scientific foundation [55–60].
Prior to implementing sustainable tourism policies and programs, area-specific indicators
need to be identified and analyzed systematically. Applying selected indicators according
to the issues and challenges in a particular region could help indoctrinate sustainable
tourism with a standard monitoring system. Table 2 presents the reviewed papers in terms
of sustainable tourism.

Table 2. Presentation of papers in terms of authors, objectives, materials, methods, analysis, and
discussions/conclusions. Source: compiled and designed by the authors.

Author(s) Objective(s) Materials and Methods Results/Conclusions

Discuss the historical perspectives Sustainable tourism emerged
Review of historical studies,
of sustainable tourism and during the 1990s, and sustainable
Swarbrooke [2] conceptual and theoretical
analyze its association with tourism development is the
discussions.
sustainable development. critical goal.
The prime focus of sustainable
To discuss the term sustainable A critical review of existing
development was environmental
Butler [16] development and its application historical, theoretical, and
sustainability, and the same link
in the tourism industry. empirical studies.
had been extended to tourism.
When it comes to providing
To study the use of geographical information to help
Review of studies and use of GIS
information systems (GIS) and its decision-making during the
Bahaire and White [45] datasets, such as spatial and
integration with the principles of development and administration
attribute data.
sustainable development. of sustainable tourism, GIS and
GPS are strong tools.
Results confirm that 90% did not
To discuss the functionality and use GIS to construct tourism
Primary data and simple
Mcadam [46] application of GIS in projects. Furthermore, 85% did
percentage analysis.
tourism-related projects. not have the skills to develop GIS
applications.
A comprehensive review of the
To study the role of local Local entrepreneurship could
literature, use of secondary
Kokkranikal and Morrison [11] entrepreneurship in the promote sustainability through
information, and interviews of
sustainable tourism of Kerala. the use of local resources.
houseboat owners and officials.
Sustainable tourism originated
A critical review of the existing
Historical background of from sustainable development
Hardy et al. [3] historical, theoretical, and
sustainable tourism. and focused more on the
empirical studies.
environment than other fields.
To examine the relationship Audit of the policy documents Community involvement is
Richards and Hall [18] between community development and exploration of policy issues crucial to the success of
and sustainable tourism. and conceptual discussions. sustainable tourism initiatives.
Tourism development in
developing countries offers
To study the environmental Secondary data sources were income, employment, and many
Neto [10] impact of tourism in developing gathered from reports, journals, infrastructure facilities. However,
countries. and other materials. rapid growth negatively affected
the environment and tourism
resources.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 7 of 15

Table 2. Cont.

Author(s) Objective(s) Materials and Methods Results/Conclusions

Planning model developed using
To study tourism’s environmental Environmental impact is positive
soft systems, mapping techniques,
and social implications on the on the Bay Islands, deteriorating
World Bank [29] impacts, synergies, scenario
North Coast, Bay Islands, and on the North Coast and less
model techniques, Dalal–Dayton
Capan Valley. significant in the Copan Valley.
and Sadler method.
Identified 159 variables to
To identify variables and develop In a critical review of past studies,
measure residents’ attitudes
a scale for measuring residents’ three hundred students and eight
Choi and Sirakaya [54] toward sustainable tourism;
attitudes towards sustainable hundred households were
finally, 44 variables with seven
tourism. surveyed by questionnaire.
sub-scales were retained.
Critical evaluation of existing Misuse of the term sustainable
To study the concept of
studies and conceptual model tourism was reflected in the
Lansing and Devries [40] sustainable tourism in the context
building via theoretical application and adoption of
of reality or merely a dream.
deliberations. sustainable tourism practices.
Developed a methodology to
measure tourism sustainability
To develop a sustainable tourism based on quantitative indicators
Review of past studies,
benchmarking tool to detect and found that infrastructure
conceptual model building, and
United Nations [39] sustainability issues and problems establishments and service quality
development of sustainable
in Indonesia, Malaysia, and helped Malaysia to downsize
tourism benchmarking tool.
Thailand. sustainability issues and its
deficiency creating sustainability
issues in Indonesia and Thailand.
Respondents supporting
To study the viewpoint of
Respondents were surveyed and large-scale establishments
residents about sustainability
Amuquandoh and Dei [33] applied the Chi-square test to considered sustainable tourism
impacts at Lake Bosomtwe,
analyze results. relevant to gain economic
Ghana, South Africa.
benefits.
Strategies and indicators were
To develop indicator-based Sustainable tourism issues
developed through desk research,
strategies for sustainable tourism significantly vary among regions
Johansen et al. [55] stakeholder discussions, case
development in the Alpine and require region-specific
studies, and data collection
regions. indicators.
analysis.
Inadequate infrastructure and
Review of the policy reports of the
To study the issues and challenges services, poor quality, unhygienic
Govt of India and telephone
Choudhary, Renu [61] in sustainable tourism growth in conditions, and lack of skilled
interviews conducted with
India. workforce badly affect sustainable
hoteliers and experts of tourism.
tourism in India.
It is suggested that local food
To study sustainable tourism in
Primary data were collected from consumption is the best way to
terms of local area development
Sims [62] 78 tourists, 24 hoteliers, and 17 protect the local environment and
through the role of local foods at
local food producers. adopt sustainable tourism
destinations in the U.K.
practices.
Sustainable development should
ensure the participation of all
stakeholders to maintain tourism
Theoretical aspects of sustainable Systematic literature review and
destinations and products.
Grundey [19] development and its influence on logical analysis, methods of
Further, sustainable tourism
sustainable tourism. comparison, and generalization.
should focus on the vital needs,
possibilities, and restrictions at
the spots.
Discussion of the sustainable
Descriptive analysis and use of There is a need for sustainable
tourism development,
UNESCO [24] theoretical models and tourism planning and its strong
approaches, and practices in
explorations. execution.
South-Eastern Europe.
Common standards to monitor
To prepare a framework via a
the performance of sustainable
Mahony and Ferreira [56] ‘quality coast program’ to instill Based on primary data.
tourism in the coastal areas of
sustainable tourism in Europe.
Europe are lacking.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 8 of 15

Table 2. Cont.

Author(s) Objective(s) Materials and Methods Results/Conclusions

Secondary sources of information Sustainable tourism faces
To discuss the challenges and
are utilized to explore the challenges in Thailand, including
initiatives taken by tourism
Khalid and Stephanie [34] sustainable tourism initiatives environmental issues,
stakeholders to ensure sustainable
taken by the local govt over-carrying capacity, and
tourism in Thailand.
community, NGOs, and others. inadequate management.
Descriptive discussions and
To critically examine the explanations and critical review of An interdisciplinary approach is
Liu [43] weaknesses in the literature on existing historical, theoretical, and viewed as a prime challenge
sustainable tourism. empirical studies on sustainable waiting for future research.
tourism.
Local government officials and
tourists recorded a higher level of
Perceptions of tourism
One hundred fifty respondents satisfaction, and residents and
Kruja and Hasaj [63] stakeholders towards sustainable
are surveyed by questionnaire business units were not satisfied
tourism in Albania.
with the government’s sustainable
tourism initiatives.
Impact of sustainable tourism on
development via residents’ A primary survey was conducted
Sustainable tourism had a positive
Huayhuaca et al. [49] perception in and around the on 306 residents, and an
impact on tourism development.
Franken Wald National Park, application of regression analysis.
Germany.
Residents’ satisfaction with
Primary data collected via
sustainable tourism in Hogue Each dimension of sustainable
questionnaire and regression
Cotrell et al. [48] Veluwe National Park in tourism contributes positively to
analysis was applied to study the
Netherlands and Chongdugou, residents’ satisfaction.
influence.
China.
Sustainable tourism’s core agenda
To explain the history and involves the stakeholders in
A critical review of historical,
Bac [17] development of the concept of preserving the environment and
theoretical, and empirical studies.
sustainable tourism. local culture and generating
benefits for the host community.
It is revealed that the sustainable
To develop a sustainable tourism The scaling chart presentation and
tourism benchmarking tool is an
benchmarking tool to assess evaluation method followed to
Gourdon [44] advanced technology to combat
tourism’s sustainability among identify and explore the
sustainability issues at
countries. dimensions and indicators.
destinations.
A critical review deliberates that
Review conceptual, theoretical,
To discuss sustainable tourism in the links between sustainable
Buckley [41] and empirical literature on
the context of research and reality. tourism and population are less
sustainable tourism.
studied.
The literature was reviewed to
To analyze local, sustainable Measurement of sustainable
develop a theoretical and
Delgado and Saarinen [47] tourism practices by listing tourism hampered by technical
phenomenological framework for
indicators offered by researchers. and conceptual difficulties.
sustainable tourism indicators.
Dependents of the tourism
industry, such as small vendors,
Secondary data was collected
laborers, and handicraft workers,
To study the armed conflict’s from various reports from the
are badly affected and shift their
Ahmad, P.A. [50] impact on tourism sustainability Ministry of Tourism, Govt of
establishments and houses from
in Jammu and Kashmir. India, journals, newspapers, and
their inheritance. Therefore,
websites.
irreparable damage to tourism
and the economy of the state.
Implications of rural tourism on Case study method and Positive corollary between
Eusbio et al. [22] sustainable development in Interviews conducted with implications of rural tourism and
Portuguese Schist, Portugal. stakeholders of rural tourism. sustainable development.
The government of Norway tried
Reviewed literature and reports
to sustain tourism in terms of
To audit the policies and practices from the Ministry of Tourism
Aall [35] tourist influx and economic
of sustainable tourism in Norway. Norway, United Nations
benefits rather than implementing
Organization, WTO, WTTC, etc.
sustainable tourism.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 9 of 15

Table 2. Cont.

Author(s) Objective(s) Materials and Methods Results/Conclusions

Influence of sustainable tourism The positive impact of dimensions
Primary survey and application of
Hussain and Ali [14] dimensions in predicting the of sustainable tourism on
the partial least square analysis.
satisfaction of residents. residents’ satisfaction.
To study the host and tourist Use of primary and secondary
Positive correlation between host
interactions and their impact on data. For analysis, correlation and
Carneiro and Eusebio [26] and tourist interactions and its
the quality of life of residents at principle component analyses
impact on the quality of life.
two beaches in Portugal. were used.
Primary information was
To study how consumers view Sustainable practices are more
collected, and ANOVA and
Ackerman [23] sustainability in the cruise important to younger cruisers
Tukey’s post hoc criterion were
industry. than the older ones.
used to verify results.
From 47 journals, a total of 132
papers are related to sustainable
Categorization and interpretation
To study the key disciplines, tourism from 1993–2013. Among
of research carried out in
journals, articles, and authors the journals, the Journal of
Zolfani et al. [64] sustainable tourism via the
contributing to sustainable Sustainable Tourism is the most
classification and critical review
tourism. famous as it contains 28 papers on
of the literature.
sustainable tourism among the 47
journals.
Results found a lack of up-to-date
To build a framework to make the Developed a framework to make data and a lack of concrete and
European Parliament [31] European Union competitive in European tourism sustainable and comprehensive framework for
sustainable tourism. competitive. tourism’s environmental and
social effects.
Fifty percent of the respondents
In Delhi, 372 guests were
registered dissatisfaction over the
To study the adoption of surveyed from fifteen five-star
sustainability practices experience
sustainability practices and hotels through a questionnaire.
Mathur and Khanna [27] in their respective hotels. It was
customer satisfaction in five-star The analysis was carried out
found that sustainable practices
hotels in Delhi. through the application of
and the level of satisfaction of
statistical correlation.
tourists are strongly correlated.
Sustainable tourism initiatives of
Audit of the global travel and
Sustainable tourism practices of the Govt of India mainly focussed
tourism competitiveness index
the Govt of India through policies on the environment and framed
Dahiya [36] and utilized reports and statistics
adopted during the planning criteria solely fit for hoteliers, tour
from the Ministry of Tourism and
period. operators, and tourism
Planning Commission.
organizations.
Primary reasons for the low
Used secondary evaluation index
performance of sustainable
data for Zhangjiajie during
To measure the performance of tourism include public utilities,
2005-09, data from ‘China City
Luo [9] sustainable tourism in Zhangjiajie, insufficient road infrastructure,
Yearbook 2006-10’, and the ‘China
China. increasing air pollution,
Urban Construction Statistical
inadequate sewage treatment
Yearbook 2006-10’.
plants, and vice versa.
The functioning of cruise tourism
Conceptual and empirical model and environmental damage are
To study the threats of cruise
Genc [28] building and application of the deeply rooted. Therefore.
tourism on the environment.
regression analysis. sustainable cruise tourism based
on collective management is vital.
The primary focus is the
sustainable development of
To study the development of Use of the systematic review
tourism, and the research lacks
Guo et al. [65] sustainable tourism and policies method and literature co-citation
depth on the influence of policies
adopted by nations. network analysis.
and governance patterns of a
country on sustainable tourism.
To study the relationships Integrating national tourism
between tourist arrivals, energy policies with environmental and
Auto-regressive distributed lag
Nepal et al. [32] consumption, pollutant emissions, energy policies is highly needed
model and Granger causality test.
and their implications for to promote sustainable tourism in
sustainable tourism. nations.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 10 of 15

Table 2. Cont.

Author(s) Objective(s) Materials and Methods Results/Conclusions

Over the years, publications in
A critical review of the existing sustainable tourism have
Major researchers of sustainable studies of sustainable tourism potentially increased, particularly
Huang et al. [25]
tourism research via countries. from 1900 to 2016 from five online from 2006 onwards, and the areas
databases. mainly targeted via research are
Asia, Europe, and America.
Impactful research topics,
methodologies, and
The positive contribution of the multidisciplinary research with
Descriptive analysis and
Journal of Sustainable Tourism impactful partnerships and
Font et al. [57] conceptual deliberations are
towards sustainable tourism communications are critical in
highlighted and presented lucidly.
development. promoting the culture of
advanced and scientific
sustainable tourism research.
Study the causes of the Ex-post factor analysis based on Imperfect endorsement, derisory
Mediterranean standard for local tourism professionals’ supremacy, and a feeling of
Gkoumas [42]
sustainable tourism (MESST) opinions in creating the MESST in distrust had damaged the efficacy
failure in Southeast Europe. 2007. and espousal of the standard.
The application of universal
methodology and indicators to
A systematic review of tourism
Case study method and formal measure the sustainability of
Eckert & Hartman [58] sustainability indicators and their
discussions. tourism at numerous destinations
applications.
predictably will give wrong
results.
A sustainable tourism attitude
Cross-cultural validity scale can evaluate resident
To validate the sustainable
Hsu et al. [59] examination and multigroup attitudes toward sustainable
tourism attitude scale.
confirmatory factor analyses. tourism in an Eastern Island
context.
Tourism-related services
To identify the fundamental positively influence the
mechanisms and elements for environment and local people, but
Streimikiene et al. [66] Scientific literature analysis.
enhancing tourist competitiveness the COVID-19 pandemic has
for sustainable tourism. created additional difficulties for
sustainable tourism growth.
The study demonstrates that
residents have a positive attitude
To examine the locals’
toward sustainable tourism
Obradović et al. [67] attitudetowards the growth of Sustainable tourism attitude scale.
growth, and seven characteristics
sustainable tourism.
have been extracted to define
sustainable tourism.
The hotel industry is influenced
To point out the significance of by the green economy and
eco-friendly business and the eco-certificates, which work to
Trišić et al. [68] Likert scale analysis and ANOVA.
development of sustainable improve the sustainability of the
tourism. tourist sector and safeguard the
environment.
We are utilizing five categories of
To examine the long-term viability Tourism growth is not entirely
comparison indicators developed
and sustainability of tourism consistent with sustainable
Milićević et al. [69] by the EU—economic, social,
development in the mountain development in the mountains
cultural, environmental, and
areas of Serbia. under investigation.
visitor satisfaction.
To look at the sustainable Tourists compromise on
Choice experiment and latent
Grilli et al. [70] management practices of coastal sustainability’s social, economic,
factors.
ecosystem services and tourism. and environmental components.
To examine the growth and This study advances the
Marinello et al. [71] structure of sustainable tourism Review of 104 scientific papers. knowledge of the critical elements
evaluation and monitoring. of sustainable tourism.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 11 of 15

4. Discussion and Future Research Directions

According to research carried out at the national and international levels, sustain-
able development is where sustainable tourism first emerged [17,19,28]. The research on
sustainable tourism that followed attempted to highlight the practical applications and
concluded that the notion lacked a conceptual definition [40,43]. Later, scholars in the
respective areas tried to rectify the issues and laid a base of four dimensions: economic,
environmental, sociocultural, and institutional [37,39]. However, studies have been con-
ducted to conceptualize sustainable tourism as a reality or a dream still uncharted. As a
result, proper operationalization and practicality of sustainable tourism required further
exploration and deliberations in future research.
A well-known trade-off exists between economic growth and sustainable tourism.
Stakeholders mainly focus on economic benefits at destinations, and insufficient attention
is given to preserving critical environmental assets. Overcarrying capacity and poor
supervision are apparent issues. Consequently, the degradation of the environment is
happening in numerous developing countries and therefore calls for the initiation of
sustainable tourism strategies and facilities, which in turn are highly helpful in promoting
tourist loyalty [32,60]. However, sustainability issues confirmed variation by dimensions
and need a suitable framework. Each dimension impacts according to the role and influence
of the particular community and varies among destinations. So, scientific analysis via
participatory research is vital to identify sustainable tourism development conditions at
destinations [61,62]. Here, it is endorsed that the studies conducted did not mention the
role of infrastructure in safeguarding the environment and its influence on dimensions of
sustainable tourism.
Adopting sustainable tourism requires strategies, indicators, methods, and models.
Accordingly, researchers tried to develop area-specific indicators and applied them in
different regions. Regional characteristics vary and need the identification of indicators
specific and relevant to the particular area [47,55,58,63]. The performance of sustainable
tourism has been taken into account and examined. Nevertheless, measuring sustainable
tourism is hindered by technical know-how and a dearth of inclusive methods [45,57,64].
Therefore, constructing a comprehensive methodology and viable techniques to quantify
sustainable tourism is indispensable.
Available indicators and dimensions are utilized to measure the performance of sus-
tainable tourism through the insights of the host community, and the implications of each
element vary between the respondents and regions [13]. Improved methodology and scal-
ing measures are focused upon and validated for better results [54]. Enhanced techniques
helped researchers examine the relationship between dimensions of sustainable tourism
and their role in the satisfaction of tourists. Then, research on sustainable tourism is diver-
sified and applied in numerous fields, such as quality of life, image of destinations, and
sustainability practices [26]. However, studies are still insufficient to present a methodology
to be applied to give an aggregate quantitative value of sustainable tourism at destinations.
Extension in research conducted by worldwide agencies and others diversified the
notion of sustainable tourism. Accordingly, studies are conducted in an interdisciplinary
manner and diversified fields [27,65]. One example is the role of local resources and
entrepreneurship in sustainable tourism. Subsequently, the impact and implications of
rural tourism on sustainable tourism initiatives and practices also come under the ambit
of broad research in the respective areas [24]. In addition, the relationship between local
products, host community involvement, and sustainable tourism initiatives are also part
and parcel of the diversified version [11,25,67]. Doubtless, many areas have been covered
and studied associated with sustainable tourism and its dimensions [14]. However, the
influence of service quality on dimensions of sustainable tourism is yet unfamiliar and
requires further scientific analysis.
Infrastructure and services are compulsory for the enlargement of each nation, and
maintenance of quantity and quality is required and strongly influences the image of tourism
spots. Dearth in any of the elements gives birth to sustainability issues and degrades the long-
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 12 of 15

term sustenance of products. Around the globe, nations with good infrastructure and high
tourism services can attract tourists from various parts and helps them to curb the negatives
of high tourist influx. Otherwise, the long-term sustenance of destinations and the dream
of sustainable tourism remains incomplete. Subsequently, it asserts the significance of
scientific research and should incorporate the elements of infrastructure and services. The
existing literature partially incorporated infrastructure and services in the research analysis
of sustainable tourism and did not evaluate any observed association.
Infrastructure, services, and sustainable tourism are, therefore, strongly ingrained.
The provision of services is a crucial infrastructure function, and both significantly impact
local initiatives and sustainable tourism practices. It endorses the lack of empirical analysis
linking the three categories indicated above and urges that future research be performed
with a strong emphasis on it. However, it should be highlighted that study in this area
requires a solid methodology and a scientific approach. As a result, it offers a chance for
high-quality research and encourages the exploration of new, cutting-edge approaches
and procedures.
Policy framework and its appropriate execution are indispensable in every sector. In
the case of sustainable tourism, the role of government initiatives, rules and regulations,
training and skills, and investment in sustainable practices are crucial. So, researchers
should focus on better research and sound policy outcomes [35,36]. Successful strategies
and execution are regarded as a base and help widely to achieve better results. In this
context, no doubt studies have been conducted but are partial and inadequate. Exploration
of the comprehensive policies and suitable strategies to engage stakeholders for sustainable
tourism practices.
In brief, the arguments above and deliberations show that the studies on sustainable
tourism covered various areas, such as origination, strategies, indicators, dimensions,
and measurement. However, the attempt made by researchers is partial and therefore
calls for further advancement. A lack of appropriate conceptualization, reliable methodol-
ogy, geographical specification, empirical analysis, real-world applications, and practices
is apparent.

5. Conclusions
National and international organizations started developing sustainable tourism in
the 1990s to continue the industry’s sustainable expansion. It was regarded as a crucial
instrument for addressing the negative aspects of mass tourism. The fundamental objectives
of sustainable tourism are to protect the environment, provide social and economic benefits
for people who depend on tourism, and ensure visitor satisfaction. In conclusion, it can
be said that while sustainable development and sustainable tourism are receiving more
and more attention, the following are not fully adopted either by the tourism sector or
by the visitors themselves. Systematic education of businesses, consumers, and other
interested parties is required if sustainable tourism is to become the norm. The foundation
of sustainable tourism is preserving the vital environment and maintaining the harmony
of all factors. Sensitive tourist destinations require sufficient supervision for long-term
survival and protection from an excessive load. Service providers may be able to make
money and cut expenses by taking advantage of mass tourism. However, it was impossible
to ensure that extended destinations would continue to operate and provide income for their
inhabitants. Adverse effects of abandonment increase sustainability problems, including
pollution, misuse, degraded goods, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct adequate
management, protection, and sustainable practices.
Exploring the relevance of sustainable tourism and examining destination research
and development performance is a powerful instrument. It assists in substantiating the the-
oretical and practical application of sustainable tourism in nations. Consequently, studies
have been conducted on numerous areas of sustainable tourism, inferences are made, and
the process is still continuous. Existing literature broadly focuses on the history, theoretical
ideas, issues and concerns, strategies, dimensions, and indicators. It is endorsed that the
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2755 13 of 15

research contains limitations and does not incorporate certain crucial areas. These include
sustainability, sustainable infrastructure and services, sustainable livelihood, and manage-
ment of tourism destinations. Further, a critical review of accessible studies confirmed a
dearth of proper conceptualization, methods, region-specific indicators, a relevant quantity
of dimensions, scientific approaches, and practices. So, future research is broadly expected
in the mentioned areas; hence, better possible outcomes are projected.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, Y.Y. and G.A.W.; methodology, software, M.E.H.; vali-
dation, formal analysis, V.N.; investigation, S.M.R.S. and S.S.; resources, data curation, M.H. and
M.K.; writing—original draft preparation, Y.Y. and G.A.W.; writing—review and editing, M.E.H.;
visualization, M.H. and M.K.; supervision, G.A.W.; project administration, Y.Y.; funding acquisition,
Y.Y. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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