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Sustainable Management in Tourism and Hospitality: Understanding Consumer Trends

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2026 | Viewed by 9893

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Silvia Baiocco

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Guest Editor

Department of Management & Law, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: sustainable tourism management; organizational adaptation; university technology transfer; entrepreneurship

Prof. Dr. Paola M. A. Paniccia

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Guest Editor

Department of Management & Law, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: sustainable tourism management; systems thinking and theory of the firm; organizational evolution; co-evolution; knowledge and time management; university technology transfer; entrepreneurship; deep tech start-up

Dr. Antonella Monda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Management & Law, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: sustainable tourism management; innovation; entrepreneurship; service research; innovative start-ups
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of Sustainability, which aims to strengthen the link between tourism and sustainable development in theory and practice by presenting innovative ideas and perspectives on tourism demand. This is particularly important in the current scenario: on the one hand, tourist arrivals are returning to pre-pandemic levels worldwide, bringing renewed sustainability challenges, and on the other hand, with less than 10 years till 2030, only 25% of the targets for 12 of the 17 SDGs have been met.

Traditionally, tourists are regarded as temporary visitors staying in a place outside their usual place of residence for a set duration and for various purposes. Accordingly, tourism demand has been measured through various indicators, including tourist arrivals, expenditures, and length of stay. Tourists have also been classified based on factors like trip purpose and country of origin. Factors influencing tourism demand have been analyzed at both macro (e.g., GDP and exchange rates) and micro levels (e.g., age, income, and seasonality). Furthermore, recent research incorporates online reviews, ratings, photos, and review sentiments to understand tourism demand.

However, it has increasingly been recognised that tourists can also be understood as travelers who not only seek for variety but also live temporarily with their attitudes, values, and cultural backgrounds in regions that they have chosen to visit, interacting with tourism firms, other organizations offering various services and goods, and communities that host them and satisfy their needs. This has relevant managerial implications for creating and developing quality tourist experiences offered by a destination, where the identity of its local socio-economic and natural contexts becomes a competitive lever, provided that the integration between all stakeholders involved is achieved. In this view, firms and tourists interact with the host community and institutions, co-shaping the tourism offering and potentially enhancing regional identities and resilience within a destination, thereby promoting sustainability.

We thus invite researchers from diverse fields to contribute original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and enlightening case studies encompassing a wide range of topics relevant to tourism firms and destinations creating and managing new tourist trends oriented toward sustainability. These topics include, but are not limited to, the following: tools for managing tourist experiences holistically, including frameworks generating multiple scenarios; innovative start-ups for co-creating sustainable tourist experiences and value; business model innovation for sustainable consumption; analyses of the evolution of tourism demand; and the design of contingency and recovery plans.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Silvia Baiocco
Prof. Dr. Paola M. A. Paniccia
Dr. Antonella Monda
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

tourism
hospitality
sustainability
sustainable development
management
tourism demand
corporate social responsibility
destination management
value co-creation
consumer behaviour
entrepreneurship

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 1671 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability in Purpose-Driven Businesses Operating in Cultural and Creative Industries: Insights from Consumers’ Perspectives on Società Benefit

by Gesualda Iodice and Francesco Bifulco

Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 7117; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157117 - 6 Aug 2025

Viewed by 558

Abstract

This study intends to provide insights and challenges for the shape of the B movement, an emerging paradigm that fosters cross-sectoral partnerships and encourages ethical business practices through so-called purpose-driven businesses. Focusing on Italy, the first European country to adopt this managerial model, the research investigates Italian Benefit Corporations, known as Società Benefit (SB), and their most appealing sustainability claims from a consumer perspective. The analysis intends to inform theory development by assuming the cultural and creative industry (CCI) as a field of interest, utilizing a within-subjects experimental design to analyze data from a diverse consumer sample across various contexts. The results indicate that messaging centered on economic sustainability emerged as the most effective in generating positive consumer responses, highlighting a prevailing inclination toward pragmatic factors such as affordability, economic accessibility, and tangible benefits rather than social issues. While sustainable behaviors are not yet widespread, latent ethical sensitivity for authentic, value-driven businesses suggests that economic and ethical dimensions can be strategically synthesized to enhance consumer engagement. This insight highlights the role of BCs in catalyzing a shift in consumption patterns within ethical-based and creative-driven sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Tourism and Hospitality: Understanding Consumer Trends)

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25 pages, 4929 KB

Open AccessArticle

Public–Private Partnership for the Sustainable Development of Tourism Hospitality: Comparisons Between Italy and Saudi Arabia

by Sara Sampieri and Silvia Mazzetto

Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6662; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156662 - 22 Jul 2025

Viewed by 945

Abstract

This study examines the role of public–private partnerships in promoting the sustainable development of travel destinations through a comparative analysis of two emblematic heritage-based hospitality projects: Dar Tantora in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, and Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita in Matera, Italy. These case studies were analysed through both architectural–urban and economic–legal perspectives to highlight how public–private partnership models can support heritage conservation, community engagement, and responsible tourism development. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative indicators—such as projected profitability, tourist volume, and employment—with qualitative insights from interviews with key stakeholders. The analysis reveals that while both models prioritise cultural authenticity and adaptive reuse, they differ significantly in funding structures, legal frameworks, and governance dynamics. Dar Tantora exemplifies a top-down, publicly funded model integrated into Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, whereas Sextantio reflects a bottom-up, private initiative rooted in social enterprise. The findings offer insights into how different public–private partnership configurations can foster sustainable tourism development, depending on local context, institutional frameworks, and strategic goals. The study contributes to the broader discourse on regenerative tourism, architectural conservation, and policy-driven heritage reuse. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Tourism and Hospitality: Understanding Consumer Trends)

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35 pages, 1298 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Sustainable Tourism Through Virtual Reality: The Role of Collectable Experiences in Well-Being and Meaning in Life

by Zhi-Hu Zhang and Heng-Chiang Huang

Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5809; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135809 - 24 Jun 2025

Viewed by 959

Abstract

This study explores the intersection of virtual reality tourism, digital innovation in digital transformation and corporate sustainability-driven business transformations in tourism strategies, and sustainability-driven business transformations in tourism. By reducing the environmental footprint associated with traditional travel, VR-based tourism presents an innovative solution to promote sustainable tourism. Through three empirical studies, we investigate how immersive 360-degree VR experiences influence psychological well-being and meaning in life as influenced by sustainable VR experiences. Our findings reveal that VR travel enhances engagement, fosters cultural appreciation, and provides an alternative to high-emission tourism, thus contributing to environmental sustainability-driven business transformations in tourism. The study offers managerial and policy implications for tourism stakeholders seeking to integrate digital transformation strategies into sustainable tourism development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Tourism and Hospitality: Understanding Consumer Trends)

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24 pages, 725 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Sustainable QR Menus on Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of Perceived Risk

by Vedat Yiğitoğlu, Esra Şahin, Beysun Güneri and Mehmet Özer Demir

Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 2323; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052323 - 6 Mar 2025

Viewed by 3848

Abstract

Technological applications have become increasingly important as competitive tools in the food and beverage industry. However, the effects of quick response (QR) menus, which exemplify sustainable menu practices, on service quality, e-service quality, and customer satisfaction, as well as the moderating role of perceived risk in these relationships, have not been sufficiently explored. To address this gap, data were collected through a face-to-face survey from 508 participants at three full-service casual dining establishments in the city center of Antalya, Türkiye, between 10 May and 26 June 2024. The research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The analysis revealed that technology-based service innovation and service quality significantly influence customer satisfaction, while e-service quality impacts customer satisfaction indirectly through service quality. Furthermore, when examining the moderating effect of perceived risk, it was found that perceived risk does not moderate the relationship between technology-based service innovation and customer satisfaction. In conclusion, the study presents managerial and practical implications that underscore the effect of technological innovations in enhancing service quality and customer satisfaction in the food and beverage sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Tourism and Hospitality: Understanding Consumer Trends)

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16 pages, 1091 KB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 Effects on Tourist Fees: Bolivia’s National Parks Case Study

by Stefanie Rakela, Thais Vilela, Sophia Espinoza and Alfonso Malky Harb

Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 1768; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17051768 - 20 Feb 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1128

Abstract

Bolivia’s national parks, with their rich biodiversity and natural landscapes, have great potential to contribute to their own financial sustainability, and tourism is one of the most promising sustainable activities that can make this possible. Entrance fees to national parks are a vital source of income for the National Service of Protected Areas, yet a significant financial gap remains. This study estimates tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP) for increased entrance fees in two protected areas, comparing data from 2019 and 2023 to assess the effect of COVID-19 on WTP. Using the contingent valuation approach, we found that tourists’ profiles and their WTP have shifted between 2019 and 2023. However, there was no consistent trend across the protected areas, highlighting the challenges and specific impacts of the pandemic on tourists WTP. Nevertheless, the findings can help inform pricing strategies aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability of Bolivia’s protected areas, supporting broader conservation goals both nationally and globally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Tourism and Hospitality: Understanding Consumer Trends)

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21 pages, 3581 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Competitiveness of e-Commerce Websites in Kazakhstan

by Gulnar Kanat, Zhaoping Yang, Cuirong Wang, Imanaly Akbar and Serik Mominov

Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 10972; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410972 - 13 Dec 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1551

Abstract

Adopting advanced e-commerce practices is essential for enhancing user engagement and business performance, particularly in tourism. This study evaluates the e-commerce adoption of Kazakhstan’s tourism websites using an innovative Integrated Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (IMCDA) methodology. Traditional evaluation methods overlook the interplay between website functionality, user experience, and strategic objectives. To address this gap, the IMCDA framework integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches by combining advanced Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques, including SPOTIS, ESP-COMET, RANCOM, and SITW, with content analysis and logistic regression. The study assessed 77 tourism websites, categorized into Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), Official Tourism Websites (OTWs), and Attraction Websites (AWs), based on 34 e-commerce features grouped into dimensions such as product information, functionality, reservations, payment systems, and customer relationship management (CRM). The findings reveal that OTAs significantly outperform OTWs and AWs in most dimensions, especially in online booking and CRM functionalities. At the same time, AWs lag in key e-commerce features like reservations and payment systems. This research highlights critical gaps in Kazakhstan’s tourism e-commerce ecosystem. It provides actionable recommendations, including enhancing CRM tools, integrating advanced booking systems, and leveraging collaborations with local financial technology providers like Kaspi Pay. The IMCDA framework offers a robust, adaptable evaluation model with practical implications for digital transformation and competitiveness in the tourism industry. This study contributes to advancing digital maturity in Kazakhstan’s tourism sector by addressing these gaps. It sets the foundation for future research to explore innovative strategies in e-commerce adoption across various regions and industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Tourism and Hospitality: Understanding Consumer Trends)

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