Nature’s Balance: Advancing Sustainability and Stewardship: Rethinking Ecotourism, Agri/Agrotourism and/or Tourism & Hospitality with Nature in Mind
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 64
Special Issue Editor
Interests: sustainable tourism development; agriculture and tourism linkages; smart technologies at hotels; smart technology in retail
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As global tourism evolves, ecotourism, agritourism, and other tourism and hospitality sectors must integrate sustainability and environmental stewardship into their core practices as recent research has highlighted the growing roles played by regenerative tourism, circular economy principles, and rural tourism in fostering sustainable development [1]. Agritourism, in particular, is emerging as a key strategy for rural economic diversification and resilience [1–3]. Meanwhile, ecotourism continues to drive conservation efforts and balance visitor experiences with biodiversity protection [4], even though claims have been made that this sub-sector of tourism often struggles with economic sustainability [5]. Nevertheless, social returns from the practice of eco-travel by tourists remain evident [6], and hospitality businesses are continuing to adapt by incorporating sustainable food systems and reducing environmental footprints [7].
This Special Issue invites research that explores innovative models for sustainable tourism, including policy frameworks, technological advancements, and stakeholder-driven solutions. We encourage contributions that examine the economic, social, and environmental impacts of ecotourism, agritourism, indigenous tourism, and hospitality, as well as comparative studies across different national contexts. The overarching aim is to address challenges related to sustainability and socioeconomic, scientific, and integrated approaches to sustainable development. Contributions may seek to define and quantify sustainability or measure and monitor sustainability, including through tools, applications, policies, and laws that are related to sustainability. By bridging gaps in the existing literature, this Special Issue aims to provide actionable insights for industry leaders, policymakers, and scholars committed to shaping a future that harmonizes tourism with nature.
- Turtureanu, A.-G.; Cret, u, C.-M.; Pripoaie, R.; Marinescu, E.S,.; Sîrbu, C.-G.; Talaghir, L.-G. Sustainable Development Through Agritourism and Rural Tourism: Research Trends And Future Perspectives in the Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Period. Sustainability 2025, 17, 3998. https:// doi.org/10.3390/su17093998
- Thomas-Francois, K., von Massow, M., & Joppe, M. (2017). Service-oriented, sustainable, local food value chain–A case study. Annals of Tourism Research, 65, 83-96.
- Thomas-Francois, K., Von Massow, M., & Joppe, M. (2017). Strengthening farmers–hotel supply chain relationships: A service management approach. Tourism Planning & Development, 14(2), 198-219.
- Narelle Beaumont (2011). The third criterion of ecotourism: are ecotouristsmore concerned about sustainability than other tourists? Journal of Ecotourism, 10:2, 135-148,DOI: 10.1080/14724049.2011.555554
- Neger, Christoph (2022). Ecotourism in crisis: an analysis of the main obstacles for the sector's economic sustainability, Journal of Ecotourism, 21:4, 311-333, DOI: 10.1080/14724049.2021.1942019
- Justin M. Beall, B. Bynum Boley, Adam C. Landon & Kyle M. Woosnam (2021). What drives ecotourism: environmental values or symbolic conspicuous consumption? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29:8, 1215-1234, DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2020.1825458
- Khatter, A. Challenges and Solutions for Environmental Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry Sector. Sustainability 2023, 15, 11491. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511491
Dr. Kimberly Thomas-Francois
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- ecotourism
- agritourism
- tourism and hospitality
- sustainability
- sustainable development
- regenerative tourism
- sustainable tourism technologies
- environmental stewardship
- nature tourism
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