Legal Frameworks for Sustainable Global Tourism: A Comparative Study of Regulatory Instruments and Industry Compliance

Abstract

Tourism continues to be a significant contributor to global GDP and employment, yet it places mounting pressure on fragile environmental and cultural ecosystems. As climate change, over-tourism, and resource exploitation intensify, robust legal frameworks are increasingly seen as critical levers for guiding sustainable tourism development (UNWTO, 2022). This qualitative study explores how legal instruments for sustainability are understood, experienced, and enacted by key tourism stakeholders—tourism operators, tourists, and academicians—across selected global regions. The research reveals that legal tools such as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), zoning laws, and sustainability certifications are often perceived by tourism operators as compliance obligations rather than sustainability commitments. The study proposes a Multi-Stakeholder Governance Model for Sustainable Tourism Law Effectiveness and advocates for rethinking sustainability laws as everyday tools, not top-down mandates.