Sustainable Tourism and Destination Resilience: A Symbiotic Relationship Based on Dynamic Capabilities?

Abstract

Although tourism undeniably provides benefits, it also presents potential drawbacks to the socio-cultural and ecological systems and, at times, creates economic vulnerabilities. The current scholarly conversation around sustainable tourism mostly revolves on the consequences of tourist activities and the strategies for extending their viability. The susceptibility of the sector to interruptions and crises over long periods of time highlights the need of resilience in the field of sustainable tourism. In accordance with this viewpoint, the current text aims to define "the durability of sustainable tourism."

The purpose of this study is to explore the interconnections among tourism, sustainability, and resilience. It aims to identify the necessary conditions for sustainable tourism to stimulate economic growth, aligning with the environmental and socio-cultural values of the countries hosting the tourism industry. Additionally, it seeks to develop strategies to address potential crises and disruptions that may pose risks to the sustainability of tourism. This paper provides a critical evaluation of the alignment between these two paradigms and emphasizes the need of implementing a sustainable tourism strategy in tourist destinations. Our inquiry aims to expand the existing body of knowledge and provide new ideas on tourist resilience. We propose a conceptual framework that combines several models based on dynamic capacities.

Keywords:  sustainable tourism, Destination Resilience, Dynamic Capabilities

JEL Classification: R11, L83, Q56, O44

Paper type: Theoretical Research