This Library section contains books, reports, classics, and documentaries that may be of particular use for destination stewardship practitioners and advocates. We welcome suggestions for additions.
Editor for this page: Ailin Fei
Table of Contents
Destination Stewardship Plans
Colorado Tourism Office. (2024). Colorado Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan: Fiscal Year 2025-2035. This plan emphasizes sustainable and regenerative tourism practices, aiming to harmonize resident quality of life with enriching visitor experience and safeguarding natural environment.
Destination Door County (2024). Destination Stewardship Plan. The Destination Stewardship Plan is intended to serve as a long-term roadmap to guide tourism strategy, investment, and identify opportunities for community partners, business leaders and local municipalities. It provides actionable steps toward achieving a common vision for Door County’s future.
Stewardship Tahoe (2023). Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan. The newly formed Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council hit the ground running by acting on initial priorities and rallying both new and existing members to contribute financial and human resources. This is a work plan to keep teams on track and moving forward toward the shared goals of fostering a tourism economy that gives back, advancing a culture of caring, and improving the Tahoe experience for all.
Visit Faroe Islands (2023). Heim: Tourism Strategy Towards 2030. Downloadable pdf. The archipelago’s striking destination stewardship and sustainable tourism plan. Heim means home – i.e., their top priority. Useful model for other destinations..
Visit Oceanside. (2024). 2024-2034 Sustainable Tourism Master Plan.
Provides a 10-year action plan for responsible tourism growth. Identifies an overarching vision and the steps for pursuing the experiences, infrastructure, product, and policies that will safeguard the long-term health of the destination and a high quality of life for residents.
Crisis & Resilience
Beirman, D. (2021). Tourism Crises and Destination Recovery. Sage Publications Ltd. “… work to support destinations and the tourism industry in general prepare, navigate and recover from crisis continues to provide immeasurable benefits to all who seek his assistance.”
Gowreesunkar, V. G. B., Maingi, S. W., & Ming’ate, F. L. M. (2022). Management of Tourism Ecosystem Services in a Post Pandemic Context. Routledge. An exploration of the challenges faced by destinations regarding the management and restoration of their ecosystem services.
Honey, M. & Frenkiel, K. (2021). Overtourism: Lessons for a Better Future. Island Press. “Bringing together tourism officials, city council members, travel journalists, consultants, scholars, and trade association members, this practical book explores overcrowding from a variety of perspectives.”
Islam, N.U., Chaudhary, M., & Vukadin, I.M. (2024). Tourism in a VUCA World: Managing the Future of Tourism. Destination stewardship is discussed within the broader context of strategic management and the necessity for tourism to evolve in response to external challenges, including environmental sustainability and community engagement. Authors identify novel solutions through an integration of knowledge from the fields of social, physical, and biological sciences.
Korstanje, M.E. & George, B. (2022). The Nature and Future of Tourism: A Post-COVID-19 Context. Apple Academic Press. “Focuses on the tourism industry in conjunction with the impact of COVID-19 from the perspective that it is both negatively impacting the industry while also offering an opportunity to rise from the ashes.”
Koščak, M., & O’Rourke, T. (2023). Post-Pandemic Sustainable Tourism Management: The New Reality of Managing Ethical and Responsible Tourism. Routledge. Provides strategies for sustainable tourism post-COVID and evaluates how it affects ethical and responsible tourism that benefits local communities. Explores how ethically and responsibly focused tourism can adapt and ensure consumer safety in a post-pandemic world.
Kumar, N., Zadeh, S. I., Naumov, N., & Sharma, S. (2025). Solutions for Managing Overtourism in Popular Destinations. IGI Global. Dimensions of overtourism and strategies to mitigate it. Includes topics such as brand development, environmental conservation, and virtual reality.
McLeod, M., Dodds, R., & Butler, R. (2024). Island Tourism Sustainability and Resiliency. Routledge. Challenges faced by island tourism destinations and theoretical and practical paths for building in sustainability and resiliency.
Milano, C., Novelli, M., & Cheer, J. (2021). Travel and Tourism in the Age of Overtoruism. Routledge. Builds on existing knowledge and makes a theoretical and practical contribution the overtourism debate and the system dynamics underlining it. Suggests ways to address this from a tourism and planning perspective. Offers critical reflections on the contemporary evolution of tourism development and the implication of such processes on people, places and spaces.
Stodola, S. (2022). The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach. Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. A captivating exploration of beach resort culture—from its roots in fashionable society to its undervalued role in today’s world economy—as the travel industry approaches a climate reckoning.
Walker, T., Demir, E., Machnik-Kekesi, G., & Kelly, V. (2024) Sustainable Tourism: Frameworks, Practices, and Innovative Solutions. Springer International Publishing. Fosters discussions on sustainable tourism, covering topics like COVID-19 recovery, pollution, climate change, and vulnerable populations. International experts share research on current and future trends, case studies, and impacts on the economy, environment, culture, and society.
Asian Development Bank (2021). Sustainable Tourism After COVID-19: Insights and Recommendations for Asia and the Pacific. Asian Development Bank. “Examines the prepandemic tourism system, the impacts of COVID-19, and how Asian tourism might be reset to contribute more effectively to the Sustainable Development Goals.”
European Travel Commission. (2024). Crises in Tourism: Impacts and Lessons from European Destinations European Travel Commission. Analyzes how European tourism has been repeatedly disrupted by diverse crises highlighting their deep impacts on demand, infrastructure, and destination welfare. Offers detailed case studies and a comprehensive crisis management checklist for National Tourism Organisations, focusing on preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience-building best practices.
Lawson, M., & Smith, K. (2023). Amenity Trap: How high-amenity communities can avoid being loved to death. Headwaters Economics. Practical guidance for managers in any destination blessed by natural attractions and cursed by too many tourists.
ARTE.tv. (2024). Re: Netflix Overtourism in Switzerland. (30:18) In 2019, when a pianist was filmed on a jetty in the beautiful lakeside village of Iseltwald for a South Korean Netflix series, locals had no idea what awaited them. Now the hugely successful series has led to fans visiting the location in the Swiss Alps from around the world. Locals are not entirely happy that their peace and quiet has been disturbed by a mass influx of tourists.
AUB-CCECS. (2025). Tourism in a Protracted State of Emergency: The Case of Bizerte, Tunisia. (11:37) Analyzes how Bizerte has faced ongoing state-of-emergency conditions in its tourism sector, examining the lasting impacts of political and economic uncertainty on local travel and hospitality industries. Underscores the community’s resilience and adaptive strategies to sustain visitor interest despite prolonged instability.
Kimmig, A. on Deutsche Welle. (2024). Overtourism: The costs of a $1.5 trillion industry. (13:05) Billions of people went on vacation in 2023, almost hitting pre-pandemic levels. Money has poured into the tourism industry, but it’s come at a cost in many other ways. Popular destinations like Mallorca and the Mexican city of Cancun are almost collapsing under the masses of people.
Sadler, T., & G Adventures. (2022). The Last Tourist. (1:40:00) Explores travel impacts on the environment, wildlife, and vulnerable communities. Including animals suffering for entertainment, orphaned children exploited for profit, and developing economies strained under the massive weight of foreign-owned hotel chains. Filmed in over 15 countries. Features Dr. Jane Goodall, Lek Chailert, Gary Knell, Meenu Vadera, and Jonathan Tourtellot.
SCoT webinars. (2025). Volume 65: Overtourism: Are people protesting against or for tourism? (1:58:27) The phenomenon of overtourism has come into focus globally. Diffuse dissatisfaction among the population with certain forms of development of places and spaces sometimes leads to protests. It is advisable to take a closer look at these protests, as protest movements often have different roots, and can develop unintended dynamics. Takes a look at recent protests in the Canary Islands to subsequently reflect on the definition of overtourism once again.
Setiawati, I. (2024). Plastic Tourism. (18:18) Explores the paradox of a paradise spoiled by plastic waste. Unveils the crisis of Gunung Sewu area (UNESCO Geopark), Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta. The consequences of uncontrolled tourism, plastic waste emerges as a pervasive threat to the ecosystem.
The Skift Travel Podcast. (2023). Rethinking Overtourism in the Post-Covid Era. (35:03) “Michael J. O’Regan discusses his research on the concept of overtourism, which he believes is outdated as a term in the post-Covid era.” He calls for destinations to wake up and take destination stewardship seriously.
Cultural, Heritage & Indigenous Perspectives
Buitelaar, M., Stephan-Emmrich, M. & Thimm, V. (2022). Muslim Women’s Pilgrimage to Mecca and Beyond. Routledge. “Investigates female Muslims pilgrimage practices and how these relate to women’s mobility, social relations, identities, and the power structures that shape women’s lives.”
Bunten, A. C. (2015). So, How Long Have You Been Native?: Life as an Alaska Native Tour Guide. University of Nebraska Press. “Firsthand account of what it is like to work in the Alaska cultural tourism industry.”
Duxbury, N. (2021). Creative Tourism: Activating Cultural Resources and Engaging Creative Travellers. CABI Publishing. “A synthesis of current research and international best practice in the emerging field of creative tourism. A vital resource for tourism agencies, practitioners, planners and policymakers interested in developing creative tourism programmes and activities.”
Guilbault, J., & Rommen, T. (2019). Sounds of Vacation. Duke University Press. Uses music as a means to gain insights into political economy, hospitality and other aspects of Caribbean tourism. Offers insights into the realities of vacations in postcolonial spaces.
Guyette, S. (2013). Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Small-Scale Solutions. BearPath Press. “This practical text guides tourism planning and development efforts from within cultures—addressing regional linkages, the tourism plan, visitor surveys, marketing, cultural centers and museums, job creation, and enterprise development, as well as evaluation of sustainability.”
Lusby, C. (2021). Destination Unknown: Sustainable Travel and Ethical Tourism. Common Ground Research Networks. “Discusses international tourism and the ways in which it brings us together. Creating spaces for encounters, protecting natural resources, volunteering ethically, traveling to discover one’s ethnic roots, vernacular design, cultural tourism and community involvement are all part of this meaningful discourse.”
Seraphin, H. (2022). Children in Sustainable and Responsible Tourism. Emerald Publishing Limited. “Fills an absence of research in the sustainable and responsible tourism field involving children as stakeholders, arguing that children’s empowerment should be core to responsible tourism initiatives.”
Slack Valek, N. & Almuhrzi, H. (2021). Women in Tourism in Asian Muslim Countries. Springer. Considers the role of women in Asian tourism countries. Draws on the experiences of women of both Muslim and non-Muslim identities to explore women in Asian tourism.
Stavans, I. & Ellison, J. (2015). Reclaiming Travel. Duke University Press Books. “Based on a controversial opinion piece originally published in the New York Times, Reclaiming Travel is a provocative meditation on the meaning of travel from ancient times to the twenty-first century.”
Valeri, M. & Katsoni, V. (2021). Gender and Tourism: Challenges and Entrepreneurial Opportunities. Emerald Publishing Limited. Adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, building on a historically informed, future-focused research agenda that accounts for the needs and concerns of contemporary policy makers and practitioners in the tourism field.
Hickman, L. (2008). The Final Call. Eden Project Books. “Travels the world on a range of holidays and finds that behind the sunny facade of pools, smiling locals, sightseeing trips and exquisite cuisine is an ugly reality and it is spreading unchecked to all corners of the globe.”
Destination Think. (2024). In Načiks (Tofino), Indigenous stewardship leads response to tourism and climate challenges. (4:11) Travel Beyond shows a way forward for every place grappling with climate risks and what it means to host visitors on Indigenous territory. We visit Načiks (Tofino), located on Tla-o-qui-aht lands, on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Canada, to learn what opportunities and challenges tourism is bringing to local First Nations and the settlers coming alongside them as allies.
Reponsible Travel. (2018). Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism. (23:20) Short documentary exploring overtourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts and places like Barcelona, Venice, Dubrovnik, and more remote destinations such as Iceland and Skye.
Destination Management
Cacatian, C. (2023). The Future of Destination Organizations: A Guide to a Community-Based Welcome. Lulu.com.
Shares her successful experiences as a tourism practitioner, economic developer, and public servant, offering case studies to inspire others. Serves as both a celebration of her community’s achievements and a guide for those looking to replicate her success.
Carnell, R., & Mounsey, C. (2023). Stewardship and the Future of the Planet, Promise and Paradox. Routledge. Simultaneous scholarship in the humanities and other fields reminds us that the damage done to the planet has often been carried out in the name of tending the land. To make progress in environmental stewardship, communication across disciplinary boundaries is critical.
Day, J. (2024). Chapter 20: Destination stewardship and sustainable urban tourism. In the Handbook on Sustainable Urban Tourism. Edward Elgar Publishing. Explores destination stewardship and its relationship to sustainable urban tourism. It examines the growing use of the term destination stewardship and how DMOs and other tourism stakeholders are applying it.
Hansen B. (2025). Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management. Kogan Page. Practical textbook to understand how travel businesses engage and comply with sustainable business practices including how to measure, monitor and report on sustainability initiatives.
Koščak, M., & O’Rourke, T. (2023). Ethical and Responsible Tourism: Managing Sustainability in Local Tourism Destinations. Routledge. This book explains the methods and practices used to manage the environmental impact of tourism on local communities and destinations. The three core themes of the book are discussed across both topic and case study chapters with practical examples from across the globe.
Mensah, I., Balasubramanian, K., Jamaluddin, M.R., Alcoriza, G. & Gaffar, V. (2022). Marketing Tourist Destinations in Emerging Economies. Springer International Publishing. Highlights the many challenges and crises that emerging destinations face. Up to date practical strategies and best practices for emerging destinations to overcome these issues are outlined.
Ritchie, J.R.B., & Crouch, G.I. (2022). The Competitive Destination: A Sustainable Tourism Perspective. Cabi Digital Library. Reprint of the 2003 landmark book. Presents a conceptual model of destination competitiveness. Strong theoretical background for managerial decision-making, giving destination managers a range of tools to analyze and increase the competitiveness of their areas.
Day, J. (2023). A Practical Guide to Destination Stewardship and Sustainable Tourism. Developed for Maine Office of Tourism in partnership with Coraggio, this guide provides background information, practical tips for destination stewards, and tangible examples on how to implement sustainable tourism practices in Maine.
George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies, Coraggio Group. (2025). Destination Forward: Advancing Stewardship in U.S. Tourism Planning. Presents main findings of “largest national study of its kind” – examining how 35 local U.S. destination stewardship and management plans align with sustainability themes and influence tourism policy and practice. Exemplary initiatives and good practices.
Miles Partnership (2024). Stewardship & Sustainability Insights, Powered by The State of the American Traveler 2024. The latest trends in U.S. leisure travel, focusing on stewardship, sustainability, and responsible travel. Experts from the industry share practical examples and actionable steps to promote sustainability and stewardship in tourism.
Perez, P. (2021). The Tourism Area Life Cycle: Its Application to the Costa del Sol. Common Ground Research Networks. “Applies “Tourism Area Life Cycle” theory [whereby] the tourist destination organically is born and evolves through life stages, analogous to a living organism, depending upon the scale of its sociopolitical, economic and environmental circumstances.”
Sutherland, J. (n.d.). Ten Steps to Kickstart Your Destination Stewardship Journey. Tourism Cares. Outlines ten actionable steps for travel destinations to adopt responsible stewardship. Emphasizes collaboration with residents, metrics beyond traditional tourism numbers, certifications, and leveraging tools like Tourism Cares’ Meaningful Travel Map.
Visit California. (2022). Destination Stewardship Smart and Sustainable Recovery. A How-To Planning Guide. Destination stewardship is critically important to ensure California’s tourism economy remains an economic engine for all Californians. Visit California developed California’s first statewide Destination Stewardship and Sustainable Travel plan. It provides a roadmap to ensure the ongoing vibrancy of California’s travel and tourism industry. It includes a robust situation analysis, vision, strategies, implementation guidance and resources to support the goals of the plan.
Wayfinder, Caraggio Group, Miles Partnership (2024). Navigating Your Stewardship Journey. Whitepaper guide for destinations transitioning from marketing to destination stewardship. Outlines four principles for effective destination stewardship and actionable insights and strategies for implementing them.
Destination British Columbia. (2025). Community Destination Stewardship Initiative: Workshop #7 Marketing & Storytelling. (53:36) Explores the powerful role of marketing and storytelling in advocating for climate resilience in the tourism industry.
ETIFOR Valuing Nature. (2025). What makes a DMO effective in sustainable destination management? | WeNaTour Webinar 1/4. (1:52:04) Explores the structure and responsibilities of Destination Management Organizations, highlighting best practices for sustainable management and stakeholder collaboration. Key concepts and methodologies for sustainable destination management and stewardship approaches are discussed to gain insights into best practices based on real-world examples.
Miles Partnership. (2024). Stewardship & Sustainability Insights, Powered by The State of the American Traveler. (1:00:22) Discover the latest insights shaping U.S. leisure travel with our annual webinar and research focused on stewardship & sustainability.
The Hotel Guide. (2025). EPISODE 91: “Sustainable Travel Redefined.” (14:22) Explores how sustainability and luxury travel go hand in hand. Founder of GreenLuxe, Amy Wald shares her journey, her vision, and insider tips for travelers who want to make an impact without sacrificing style or comfort.
Travel Oregon. (2024). Wednesday A.M. Keynote General Session: Sharing Stories & Lessons of Destination Stewardship. (1:37:11) Travel Oregon is dedicated to sharing stories of the different ways that destination leaders are inspiring their communities to secure a solid economic future through destination stewardship. Pleased to be collaborating with four amazing leaders from around Oregon to showcase their success stories and unpack key lessons learned that can inspire you to action.
Destination-Based Resources
Croes, R. (2022). Small Island and Small Destination Tourism. Routledge. “Considers the tourism specialization, economic growth, and tourism competitiveness of a very specific type of tourism: small islands practicing warm water island tourism.”
Gona, J. K. & Atieno, L. (2022). Sustainable Tourism Dialogues in Africa (De Gruyter Studies in Tourism Book 7). De Gruyter. Authors “pinpoint the necessary actions for bringing about transformations in sustainable development of tourism” in Africa.
Honey, M. (2019). Cruise Tourism in the Caribbean: Selling Sunshine. Routledge. “Explores the lessons learned from half a century of Caribbean cruise tourism; one of the most popular and profitable sectors of the tourism industry.”
Manning, E., & Márquez, LE. (2023). Sustainable Tourism in the Americas. Cabi. Eight chapters explore sustainable tourism in the region. Documents successful policies and implementations in various American countries, examining sustainability in diverse cultural and ecological contexts, including indigenous sites and urban environments.
Mathew, P. V. (2024). Responsible Tourism: Destinations and Impacts: A Kerala Case Study. Independently Published.
Examines the role of responsible tourism in promoting destination sustainability and enhancing the quality of life for local communities in Kerala, India. Delves into how responsible tourism practices can serve as a precursor to achieving sustainable tourism destinations.
Nair, V., Hamzah, A., & Musa, G. (2024). Responsible Rural Tourism in Asia. Channel View Publications. Promotes conservation of nature, protects the authenticity of culture, and offers socioeconomic benefits for local communities, including case studies from a range of Asian countries. Examines both successful and failed attempts in developing responsible rural tourism, and lessons we can apply for future efforts in the region.
Neri, M. (2022). Evaluating the Local Impacts of the Rio Olympics. Routledge. ”Evaluates the local impacts and legacies of the Olympics in Rio by comparing Rio2016 with other Olympic experiences.”
Rietveld, N. (2024). Iceland’s Sustainable Practices: Geothermal Energy, Eco-Friendly Tourism, And Conservation Efforts. Independently Published. Discusses Iceland’s eco-friendly tourism industry, which prioritizes responsible travel practices and conservation, and Iceland’s conservation efforts, showcasing the country’s commitment to preserving its unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Iceland’s conservation initiatives serve as a model for sustainable environmental stewardship.
Sharma, A. & Hassan, A. (2021). Future of Tourism in Asia. Springer. Offers well-informed insights about the future of tourism in Asia. Explores tourism themes in the context of Asia to allow readers to consider how Asian countries can capitalize on tourism in the future.
Pestell, P.E. (1986). Palling: A History Shaped by the Sea. Poppyland Publishing. “The ‘place of Paelli’s people’ has a much longer and more interesting history than that of a seaside haven. Ronnie Pestell’s original text has been enhanced by that of his friend David Stannard to bring Palling’s story into the present millennium.”
Nordregio Videos. (2025). The right kind of tourist? Rethinking tourism’s impact on Nordic communities. (1:29:38) Discussed findings from the Nordregio report “The Right Kind of Tourist? Rethinking tourism’s impact on Nordic communities.” Takes a close look at the dilemmas that many Nordic places are facing and offers strategies that create a balance between the tourism industry and local needs and resources.
SLICE Earth. (2025). Overcrowding Venice: The City’s Breaking Point | SLICE EARTH | FULL DOC. (45:04) Venice is one of Italy’s most visited destinations, with thousands arriving daily from cruise ships to see St Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge. Many stay only a few hours, taking photos and quick gondola rides, which often leaves visitors feeling they missed the romantic Venice they imagined.
ARTE.tv Documentary. (2025). Greenland’s Push for Sustainable Tourism | ARTE.tv Documentary. (3:04) Elections in Greenland took place on 11 March. Greenland is the world’s largest island and is in the Arctic. The country is aiming to become economically independent and to do so, is turning towards sustainable tourism.
Clean Up The Lake. (ongoing series). What Lies Unseen. (~10:00) Documentary series and real-time adventure. Each episode follows Colin West and his dedicated team tackling lakebed cleanups, uncovering everything from discarded trash to lost historical artifacts. Along the way, they face dangerous diving conditions, extreme underwater environments, and shocking finds that shed light on the impact of human activity in our lakes.
PBS. (2024). Cruise Boom: A Community on the Cusp of Change. (55:29) Ellen Frankenstein’s documentary about the impact of large cruise ships’ arrival in Sitka, Alaska.
Innovation & Smart Destinations
Bulahis, D. Taheri, B. & Rahami, R. (2022). Smart Cities and Tourism. Goodfellow Publishers. Illuminates the evolution of smart cities and accompanying issues such as “smart tourists…smart sports.. and creating smart tourism destinations.” Also considers how smart tourism can positively contribute to the lives of locals.
Coghlan, A. (2023). An Introduction to Sustainable Tourism 2nd edition. Goodfellow Publishers. Provides a comprehensive, pragmatic, and realistic look at integrating sustainability into tourism. Using first-hand research projects and international case studies, it takes a comprehensive look at practical management tools, certifications and innovation as part of the process of operationalizing and implementing sustainable tourism.
Hardy, A. (2020). Tracking Tourists. Goodfellow Publishers. Comprehensively explores tourists’ movement, taking into account the role of new technologies (such as big data and WiFi tracking) in influencing tourist movement. Also outlines potential future trends in tracking tourists’ mobility.
Joshi, S. (2022). Sustainable Tourism Supply Chain Management: Influences, Drivers, Strategies, and Performance. Springer International Publishing. Examines all aspects of sustainable supply chain management within the tourism industry, offering clear explanations of relevant concepts and closely scrutinizing the complexities of the tourism supply chain and its sustainability. A valuable source for practitioners and policymakers.
McClanahan, P. (2024). The New Tourist. Scribner. From Hawaii to Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam to Angkor Wat. The book unveils the tourism industry’s influence. The transformative power of tourism, its impact on cities, and the potential for positive change. Emphasizes responsible tourism as a force for good.
Mabrian, Phocuswright. (2024). A Roadmap To Move Destinations Away from Overtourism. Addresses the pillars to build a long-lasting sustainable destination management strategy, based on data intelligence. Presents a seven-step, data-driven framework for combating overtourism, emphasizing measurement across key indicators.
World Bank. (2020). Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism. World Bank. “Comprehensive review of the tools and knowledge resources could be used by practitioners in the field of NBT, to prepare and implement projects that promote sustainable NBT practices and policies.”
Sustainable Travel International. (ongoing series) Sustainable Travel: Where Next? World-ranging short-form documentaries explore sustainability initiatives transforming tourism.
Policy & Governance
Bruntz, C. & Schedneck, B. (2020). Buddhist Tourism In Asia. University of Hawaii Press. “Explores how Buddhists, government organizations, business corporations, and individuals in Asia participate in re-imaginings of Buddhism through tourism.”
Canale, R. R., & De Siano, R. (2025). Tourism, Growth and Sustainability. Palgrave Macmillan Cham. Reconstruction of the relationship between tourism, growth and sustainability. Drawing on theoretical and applied perspectives, the authors provide analytical tools to investigate connections at the heart of policy debate, in search of new strategies to promote growth.
Filho, W. L., Safaa, L., Perkumienė, D., & Pimenta Dinis, M. A. (2025). Tourism and Heritage: Shaping Sustainable and Innovative Futures. Springer Cham.
Addresses the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism. Focuses on management of intangible cultural heritage, responsible practices in the tourism sector, and technological innovations, including artificial intelligence.
Goodwin, H. (2016). Responsible Tourism: Using tourism for Sustainable Development. Goodfellow 2nd Edition. Globally vital necessity of realizing sustainable tourism. Important challenge to those who organize and sell travel and tourism, and those who consume it.
Hugues, S., & Yallop, A.C. (2022). Overtourism and Tourism Education: A strategy for sustainable tourism futures. Routledge. An investigation of overtourism from a tourism education perspective that presents original research on the topics of overtourism, education, and sustainability, and puts forward a range of practical and transformative tourism education strategies to mitigate overtourism and to promote the sustainable development of destinations.
Johnston, T. & Manderlatz, P. (2015). Thanatourism: Case Studies in Travel to the Dark Side. Goodfellow Publishers. “Takes a broad methodological approach and discusses both research and teaching approaches in thanatourism as well as acknowledging its emotive nature.”
Pacelli, V. & Sica, E. (2022). The Economics and Finance of Cultural Heritage. Routledge. “Delves into the financial assessment of heritage assets with a focus on evaluation models, the technique of project financing and wealth management in the art sector.”
Pechlaner, H., Innerhofer, E., & Philipp, J. (2024). From Overtourism to Sustainability Governance. Routledge. How destinations can be managed for long-term resilience and sustainability.
Pilling, D. (2019). The Growth Delusion. Crown. A provocative critique of the pieties and fallacies of our obsession with economic growth. Reveals the hidden biases of economic orthodoxy and explores the alternatives to GDP, from measures of wealth, equality, and sustainability to measures of subjective wellbeing.
Singh, P., Daga, S., Yadav, K., & Jain, A. (2024). The Need for Sustainable Tourism in an Era of Global Climate Change. Emerald Publishing Limited. Explores the shift from traditional to sustainable tourism, emphasizing the policy initiatives needed at various levels to support green practices. Covers key topics like green infrastructure, travel, hotels, and energy, highlighting their role in achieving sustainable development goals and fostering a green economy.
Torabian, P., & Albrecht, J. N. (2025). Justice in Tourism Destinations: Avenues for Destination Governance and Management. Routledge. Demonstrates how both the tourism system and tourism destinations can adapt and act to mitigate, avoid, or solve injustices in destinations. Offers further insight into who benefits from tourism, how tourism can be made fairer and more just, and how tourism can be mobilized as a tool for securing justice.
Bansal, S. (2021). Tread Brightly: Notes on Ethical Travel. Discusses the ethics of orphanage tourism, cruise ships, and study abroad programs. Considers the climate consequences of non-essential travel. For anyone who’s thinking about traveling the world.
Cheer, J. M. (2024). Travel without leaving a trace. The UNESCO Courier. Explains how overtourism around World Heritage sites threatens local communities and ecosystems. Emphasizes that responsible traveler behavior is essential for preserving cultural and natural heritage for future generations.
Dialogue4Tourism. (2024). White Paper on Sustainable Tourism Governance in the Euro-MED area. Sustainable Tourism Interreg Euro MED. Explores the critical intersection of tourism and climate adaptation in the Euro-Med region, offering a detailed, narrative-driven analysis of the challenges, strategies, and collaborative frameworks necessary to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for the sector.
European Committee of the Regions. (2024). Tourism and Rural Development. European Union. Dispassionate look at tourism benefits and problems in the EU, with notes on funding.
Travel Foundation. (2024). Climate Justice in Tourism. Highlights the role the travel industry must play in delivering a just climate transition. Explores why to look at tourism through a climate justice lens and the risks of not doing so.
UNESCO World Heritage Convention. (n.d.). Sustainable Tourism Toolkit. For World Heritage Site managers and other key stakeholders to make positive changes to the way they pro-actively manage tourism. Focused on best practice approaches to sustainable economic development through tourism.
World Economic Forum, Kearney. (2025). Future of Travel and Tourism: Embracing Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. Highlights the critical roles of governments, private companies, local communities, and travelers in shaping an ecosystem that leverages innovation to address environmental challenges, promote equitable value distribution, and prepare for future global “polycrises.”
World Monuments Fund. (2015). Harboring Tourism: Cruise Ships in Historic Port Communities. World Monument Fund. “Reports on the proceedings of Harboring Tourism: An International Symposium on Cruise Ships in Historic Port Communities, held February 6–8, 2013, in Charleston, South Carolina.”
EU Rural Pact. (2025). Good Practice Webinar on Sustainable rural tourism: Climate-friendly, resilient, sustainable tourism. (12:19) Showcases innovative approaches that link sustainable tourism, heritage conservation and entrepreneurship. Explores policy measures and incentives that support sustainable tourism, including investment opportunities, infrastructure improvements, and the promotion of entrepreneurship in rural areas.
EuroNews. (2025). Destination Europe Summit: Tackling overtourism & building a sustainable tourism economy. (5:00) At the Destination Europe Summit 2025, industry leaders and policy makers discussed solutions for sustainable tourism, tackling seasonality, overtourism and the environmental challenges facing Europe’s top destinations.
ITBBerlin. (2025). Is Tourism coming to an end? From Overtourism to Sustainability Governance. (33:36) Explores how governance, collaboration, and innovation are shaping the future of the industry. Can tourism adapt to global challenges, or are its current models approaching their limits? Offers insights into the evolving relationship between tourism and sustainability.
Regenerative & Community-Based Tourism
Apollo, M. (2022). Mountaineering Adventure Tourism and Local Communities: Social, Environmental and Economics Interactions. Edward Elgar. Using empirical evidence from interviews held in the Himalayas combined with a theoretical grounding, it focuses on the socio-economic and environmental issues of the impact of mountaineering adventure tourism on local communities.
Bellato, L., Frantzeskaki, N., & Nygaard, CA. (2022). Regenerative tourism: a conceptual framework leveraging theory and practice. Tourism Geographies. Practical guidance for those seeking regenerative futures. The framework promotes collaborative research and practice, covering diverse applications, interdisciplinary methods, non-English, non-Western, and Indigenous perspectives, tourism geography, and connections with existing concepts.
Bricker, K. S., & Kariithi, J. (2025). Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism: From Principle to Practice in the New Millennium. Apple Academic Press. Case studies from around the world on nature-based tourism and sustainable development through tourism. Explores benefits of ecotourism, and importance of involving local communities in tourism planning.
Fennell, D. A. (2021). Routledge Handbook of Ecotourism. Routledge. “Presents a timely, broad-ranging, and provocative overview of the essential nature of ecotourism. The chapters will … provide challenging and divergent observations that will thrust ecotourism into new areas of research, policy, and practice.”
Ingram, L., Slocum, S. & Cavaliere, C. (2020). Neolocalism and Tourism: Understanding a Global Movement. Goodfellow Publishers. “First comprehensive analysis of neolocalism in the tourism context and provides a forum to discuss the latest developments, trends, and research involving tourism and neolocalism, as well as exploring new areas for consideration.”
Jimenez Ruiz, A. E., Bhartiya, S., & Rudkouskaya, V. (2026). Building Sustainable Tourism Communities: A Blueprint for the Future. Routledge. Comprehensive framework for fostering sustainable tourism communities, providing actionable strategies to balance economic growth, environmental preservation, and social equity. Features real-world case studies, actionable frameworks, and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Molstad, A. (2012). Last chance destinations. How to explore the world while making it a better place to live. Amazon E-Book. Reports not only on the enjoyment of travel, but also on the effects tourism has on the places we visit. Raises important issues that concern the sustainability of travel, and more important the future of our planet.
Sant, A. (2022). From the Ground Up. Island Press. Outlines how US cities are engaging in practical solutions at local community level to address the climate emergency. Included are twelve inspirational case-studies to improve areas to live in while addressing climate change.
Slocum, S.L., Wiltshier, P. & Basil Read IV, J. (2022). Tourism Transformations in Protected Area Gateway Communities. CABI Publishing. Provides “bottom-up, informed, and nuanced approaches to tourism management using local experiences from gateway communities and protected areas management.”
Tsung H. L., & Jan, F. H., (2025). Handbook on Sustainable Community-Based Tourism. Edward Elgar. Comprehensive overview of contemporary challenges and opportunities in sustainable community-based tourism (CBT). Analyzes innovative approaches to planning, managing and developing CBT, outlining current trends, and highlighting avenues for future research.
Tyagi, P. L., Nadda, V., Kankaew, K., & Dube, K. (2024). Examining Tourist Behaviors and Community Involvement in Destination Rejuvenation. IGI Global. Explores regenerative practices and offers a roadmap for industry stakeholders to transition towards sustainable models that prioritize environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
Wright, L. (2020). Local Life: New Orleans. Arcadia Publishing. “Captures a snapshot of local perspectives on tourism in this nuanced collection of interviews… amplifies the diverse voices of inhabitants whose livelihoods, incomes, and pastimes are molded by tourism.”
Icelandic Tourism Research Centre. (2024). Responsible Tourism Best Practices in the Nordic Countries. In five countries, focuses on competence development and the role of the individual in responsible tourism and the importance of effective cooperation in responsible tourism.
Practical Guides & Toolkits
Becker, E. (2013). Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism. Simon & Schuster. “In this ‘meticulously reported and often disturbing exposé of the travel industry’, (The New York Times Book Review), Elizabeth Becker describes… its huge effect on the world economy, the environment, and our culture.”
Damnjanović, I. (2021). Sustainable tourism: On the journey to the future. Serves as guidelines for educational experience co-creation for tourism students and helps instructors become facilitators through a purposeful, inclusive, and inspirational learning process.
Isaac, R.K., Nawijn, J., Farkić, J., & Klijs, J. (2024). Tourism Interventions, Making or Breaking
Places. Routledge. Pros and cons of various types of tourism interventions, with discussions on community resilience, creative placemaking, and participatory approaches.
Kheel, J. (2021). Waking the Sleeping Giant: Unlocking the Hidden Power of Business to Save the Planet. Lioncrest Publishing. “This book offers up tangible ways everyone—from executives to employees—can make a difference and demonstrate the value of sustainability beyond the bottom line.”
Kunstler, J. H. (1994). Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America’s Man-Made Landscape. Simon & Schuster. “Tallies up the huge economic, social, and spiritual costs that America is paying for its car-crazed lifestyle. It is also a wake-up call for citizens to reinvent the places where we live and work, to build communities that are once again worthy of our affection.”
Mandić, A., & Walia, S.K. (2023). The Routledge Handbook of Nature Based Tourism Development. Routledge. Systematic outlook of the phenomenon of nature-based tourism and critical perspectives on key concepts, policy, and practice. Includes new approaches toward visitor management and low-impact experience design, regenerative and transformative tourism, destination stewardship, and pro-environmental behavior.
Sharma, D., Abdullah, H., & Singh, P. (2024). Sustainable Tourism. Part A Balancing Conservation and Progress in a Dynamic Industry. Emerald Publishing Limited. Addresses the environmental and cultural challenges faced by the tourism industry. Provides valuable insights for stakeholders, including destination managers, policymakers, and local communities, to promote sustainable practices.
Spenceley, A. (2021). Handbook for Sustainable Tourism Practitioners: The Essential Toolbox. Edward Elgar Publishing. “This insightful Handbook brings together the practical guidance of over 50 international practitioners in sustainable tourism. Applying strong research design principles, it provides a workable and rational toolkit for investigating practical challenges….”
IUCN WCPA. (2025). Strengthening Sustainable Tourism’s Role in Biodiversity Conservation and Community Resilience. An authoritative roadmap for realigning tourism with conservation, equity, and regeneration by 19 global experts; six case studies.
The Travel Foundation. (2019). Destinations at Risk: The Invisible Burden of Tourism. Describes how destinations must uncover and account for tourism’s hidden costs, referred to as the “invisible burden”, to protect and manage vital destination assets worldwide.
GSTC. (2025). GSTC Framework: A Path to Destination Stewardship. (1:00:21) Guides participants through the journey of destination stewardship using the GSTC framework. Introduces the Destination Stewardship Starter Kit, a practical resource tailored to help destination managers, policymakers, and tourism stakeholders embrace a stewardship approach.