Sustainability as a success factor for tourism destinations: a systematic literature review

PurposeThis study sought to assess the extent to which tourism research has considered sustainability as a success factor for tourism destinations. It also aims to identify the relevance of the economic, environmental and socio-cultural dimensions of sustainability for tourist destination success, identify gaps in the literature and draw theoretical and practical implications and make recommendations.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology consists of a systematic literature review on sustainability as a success factor for tourism destinations.FindingsResearch interest in the topic is recent and mostly focused on environmental sustainability. Developing a sustainable tourism policy and performing adequate destination management are crucial for tourism destination success. It is also acknowledged that perceiving a destination as sustainable has a significant positive impact on tourists' experiences, purchasing behaviour and loyalty.Originality/valueThis study's value arises from the fact that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no systematic literature review was yet been performed on the topic of sustainability as a success factor for tourism destinations.

Restart tourism | build the future

PurposeThis viewpoint aims to explore the question: How can we restart and monitor the path towards the tourism of the future?Design/methodology/approachThis paper identifies the progress made at scientific, institutional, political and technological levels, and how it is possible to foresee that we will enter in a new era of tourism indicators.FindingsA significant body of literature clearly demonstrates that tourism cannot be viewed simply from an economic point of view as it has a great influence on sociocultural and environmental dimensions. The impact of tourism and how to ensure its long-term success has been invoked for the last few decades, leading to the direct consideration of sustainability indicators in a wide array of scientific publications. However, despite significant advances, the lack of funding, lack of support or interest from the political community, bureaucracies or lack of methodological guidance and of technical skills along the entire value chain pose clear challenges to the development and adoption of wide data systems to support sustainable tourism policies.Originality/valueThe paper sheds light on the Portuguese position regarding the recovery of the tourism sector in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also highlights the commitment to knowledge and monitoring of sustainability in tourism, articulated at international level, and how this is essential in order to make progress and to overcome the challenges facing the sector. At the same time, it demonstrates how fundamental it is to identify solutions to boost the potential of tourism as an economic, social, environmental and cultural phenomenon.

Sustainability as a measure of tourism success: the Portuguese Promotional Tourism Boards' view

PurposeThe study explores the concept of sustainability as a measure of tourism success from the perspectives of the Portuguese Promotional Tourism Boards.Design/methodology/approachThe study reviews current approaches to defining sustainability and explores how this can contribute to measuring success in tourism destinations using the case of the Portuguese Promotional Tourism Boards to shed light on the theme issue question.FindingsThe evidence that the impacts of tourism are not all beneficial to destinations and their residents is mounting and well addressed by the main world tourism agencies who are now promoting alternative ways for the industry to adopt a more holistic approach to measure the success of tourism destinations. This approach is also being adopted and promoted by some of the world's best tourism destinations.Originality/valueBased on contributions from the Portuguese Regional Promotional Tourism Entities (ERTs), it was possible to define a successful tourism destination as the one that creates income for the local community and ensures the quality of life of the population; values and preserves local identities, heritage, culture and traditions; and promotes the sustainable use of ecosystems and the preservation of natural resources, while practising a circular economy approach. Based on the same source, it was possible to identify the most important variable in evaluating the success of a tourist destination: the level of satisfaction of residents with tourism.

Towards a holistic approach for measuring tourism success: contribution to a new paradigm

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to critically review the contributions made by the global trends issue participants and to present the lines of action in the form of a proposal for measuring tourism success that is based on a clear move towards sustainability.Design/methodology/approachA content analysis of the papers selected was performed so as to identify the most significant outcomes of this global trends issue in terms of the contributions to knowledge and/or professional practice.FindingsThe wide range of perspectives put forward by authors provide a thorough review of the concept and practice of sustainability and its application to the tourism sector, explore a variety of angles that are central to the balanced development of tourism and shed light on new approaches to the measurement of tourism success.Originality/valueThe articles contained in this global trends issue demonstrate that tourism cannot solely be an economic equation, but rather an engine for sustainability across its three commonly accepted pillars: Economic, Socio-cultural and Environmental.

Destination management in a post-covid environment

PurposeThis paper seeks to reflect on the impacts of the pandemic on the management of tourist destinations, discussing the role of destination-management organizations in the tourism development model, as well as the challenges that these organizations must address to ensure an effective construction of a more sustainable and competitive tourism.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on a literature review linking destination management with pandemic and post-pandemic responses.FindingsThe COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedent shock to the tourism industry's growth model since World War II, challenging tourism stakeholders (destinations and companies) with several threats and opportunities to their future competitiveness. In addition to the massive impacts in terms of business development, the abrupt reduction of tourism demand and the significative loss of jobs, the pandemic also caused significant disruption in terms of destination-management models. In less than four months, the focus of Governments and Destination Management Organizations shifted from defining development models compatible with improving the quality of life of residents due to the emergence of the so-called overtourism phenomenon, to the urgent need to support the industry's survival, to preserve jobs and ensure conditions of safety for tourists and workers.Originality/valueDemonstrates the need for a profound change in the paradigm of destination management so that the sector is prepared to face future shocks. It also proposes further discussion on the role of destination management in the recovery process of the tourism sector in global terms, given the challenges that these organizations face. The article also considers the ways in which destination management can be a fundamental tool in the process of building a more inclusive, sustainable and competitive future.

The ecology of sustainable tourism

PurposeThis paper questions the present state of the world's tourism industry and advocates the need for an approach where quality assumes greater importance than quantity.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides an analysis of the tourism industry's recent evolution while trying to identify reasons for its decline which amongst others, include security issues and economic crisis.FindingsIn developing a sustainable tourism industry especially in these economically challenging times, we must learn to appreciate what is precious in our own lives and in our respective communities. This in turn will help us maintain and further explore the uniqueness of our tourist destinations. The greatest threat to leisure and tourism (and to a lesser extent to business travel) is the fact that travel has lost a good deal of its romance and enchantment due to a global approach to its development. In the rush for efficiency and quantitative analysis the travel and tourism industry may have forgotten that each traveller has unique expectations.Originality/valueSustainable tourism is not only about how a tourist location adapts but also about what a city or destination accomplishes when re-discovering its inner essence and then promoting it.

Towards a tourism industry turnaround: the need for a new metric of social success

PurposeThis review highlights the need for a tourism industry turnaround combining changes in its governance and in its social success metric.Design/methodology/approachAlthough debate was ongoing before the pandemic with the sustainability approach as the main reference, the crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 has multiplied and amplified the voices calling for change in order to counteract the inertia of a return to the pre-pandemic “business as usual” scenario.FindingsThis review led to a proposal that combines a tourism governance framework and its principles, with a conceptualisation of social success and guidelines for building a metric for its measurement.Originality/valueThis resides mainly in a transition from a public–private partnerships (3Ps) model to a new scheme of public–private–people partnership (4Ps). The P for “people” represents the need for an alliance with society to contribute to the recovery and transformation that the tourism industry is currently experiencing. In this process, local communities should be empowered to play an active role in it. In the proposal elaborated, host communities are the focus of its conceptual architecture. To-date, analysis of the application of the 4Ps model to tourism is almost unexplored, despite the significant practical implications of a power re-balancing in decisions related to tourism planning and development. In addition, a social success-driven metric supported at the institutional level will contribute to redefining priorities in tourism destinations'/companies' strategies.

Measuring tourism success: are we on the brink of a new paradigm?

PurposeThe article aims to introduce the strategic question and demonstrate its relevance and reality. It also profiles the articles selected for the annual global trends issue and explains how they illustrate the various angles impacting the adoption of a new paradigm to measure tourism success.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on a review of articles selected to identify commonalities and differences in respect to the evolution of the concepts and methodologies explored in this global trends issue: sustainability, the contribution of tourism to host communities and measures of tourism success. A brief explanation of the positions and proposals presented by authors as well as their key contributions is also presented.FindingsThe tourism industry has traditionally been based on economics and financial return, with the metrics for measuring tourism performance remaining fairly static over the years. These placed a strong emphasis on the number of tourists and their levels of expenditure at the destinations. However, it is interesting to note a clear evolution towards a new perspective for a holistic and balanced approach between the economic, social/cultural and environmental dimensions of sustainable tourism development.Originality/valueThis introductory article sets the scene for an emerging paradigm to measure tourism success, and it highlights the various contributions to the development of sustainable tourism and the challenges faced by the tourism sector, the role of Destination Management Organizations and the need for quality data to support decision-making by public and private organizations.

Measuring tourism success: how European National Tourism Organisations are shifting the paradigm

PurposeThe paper analyses the dramatic global slowdown of tourism caused by the pandemic and how it has provided an exceptional opportunity for the tourism sector to reassess both its priorities and practices, especially in relation to our planet and society.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides an analysis of the European Travel Commission's position regarding the development of a sustainable tourism ecosystem and the definition of new metrics to measure this transition, thus allowing European National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) to share knowledge and learn from each other.FindingsNTOs across Europe are at different stages in their journey towards a sustainable tourism development model. Some destinations are still focussing on attracting more travellers from international markets while others at a more mature stage, are switching their work towards the management of tourism flows. These latter examples support the approach that developing a tourism strategy should start with the needs of the destination, and the local people should be directly and fully involved in the tourism strategy. Initiatives such as this can support tourism decision-making based on data and firm evidence and help to address doubts and common misunderstandings around how residents feel.Originality/valueThis paper highlights how the European Travel Commission, together with its members, are working towards a new world benchmark for responsible, sustainable and innovative tourism in response to exponential growth of demand, the reality of the ecological transition and the emergence of a new digital era.

Including residents in the rebranding of tourist destinations to achieve sustainable development goals

PurposeThis paper aims to indicate the importance of including residents in the rebranding of a destination.Design/methodology/approachThis article is based on a literature review.FindingsThe World Tourism Organization recently adapted the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to show their relevance to tourism. The quality of life of the residents was a common theme of these goals. Through a review of literature, the paper identified the negative and positive effects of tourism on the residents' quality of life. This was done to show how destination management organizations (DMOs) could design and manage their tourism activities to avoid the negative effects on residents and maximize the positive benefits.Originality/valueAs tourist destinations strive to meet sustainability goals, we argue that many will have to be rebranded. The paper shows how through the rebranding process the destination can create brand identity elements that communicate as well as guide their sustainability efforts. Also, just as corporations need to include and have employees that believe and support the company's brand identity elements, DMOs must include residents in the branding process and gain their support of the destination's brand identity elements. As practical implications for DMOs, the paper shows the importance of developing tourism policies that will enhance the life of residents, demonstrating how this can be accomplished through a rebranding process. As research implications, there is a call for researchers to measure the results of destination's rebranding efforts including the satisfaction of residents as a construct. To accomplish this there is also a need to develop a reliable and valid scale of resident satisfaction with tourism polices.