Developing an integrated framework for sustainable tourism culture

Abstract

Tourism plays a vital role in promoting sustainable development, with the intersection of culture and tourism shaping the social, economic, and cultural advancement of communities. Cultivating a sustainable tourism culture is essential for enhancing the image and resilience of destinations, yet there is limited empirical research examining its underlying components. This study aims to identify, validate, and prioritize the key indicators of sustainable tourism culture. A meta-synthesis of 37 academic studies was conducted to extract core components, which were then validated through equation structural modelling (ESM). A field survey followed, using a 39-item Likert-scale questionnaire completed by 172 tourism stakeholders, including hotel managers and service providers. The analysis revealed three primary dimensions – social, regenerative, and individual–organized into a five-level hierarchical model. Foundational indicators such as mutual trust-building underpin higher-level factors, including mind relaxation, cultural re-identification, and the rejection of cultural arrogance, dominance, and ignorance. This study offers a novel theoretical contribution by presenting an empirically grounded framework that deepens understanding of tourism culture within sustainable development. Practically, it provides tourism policymakers and practitioners with a structured tool to design culturally sensitive, sustainable strategies that enhance visitor experience, community wellbeing, and destination resilience.