Understanding tourism's environmental, social, and economic impacts through systematic literature mapping

Abstract

Tourism is a burgeoning industry that drives economic development, supports conservation, and fosters cultural exchange; however, there are risks associated with mismanaged and unchecked tourism. Rapid recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to shift away from an unsustainable ‘business-as-usual' approach while mitigating negative impacts and preparing the industry for the challenges of a changing climate. This research aims to increase our understanding of tourism’s impacts, an essential step in guiding sustainable tourism management. We employ a systematic literature mapping methodology to synthesize 47 interdisciplinary works. Our results reveal 24 distinct impacts in six categories: Environmental, Social, Economic, Socio-economic-environmental, Socio-economic, and Socio-environmental. We present key themes intended to inform targeted management strategies and policy interventions. Environmental impacts, notably changes to biodiversity, were the most frequently documented concern. As such, we suggest an increased focus on the relationship between tourism and the environment and improved management and regulation to protect wildlife and communities impacted by tourism.