Sustainable supply chain management in tourism: a systematic literature review

Abstract

ABSTRACT The tourism industry was seen as one of the main beneficiaries of globalisation prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, while tourism is a major driver of economic growth and social well-being, a transformation of the industry towards more sustainable practices along the tourism supply chain (TSC) is needed to ensure that sustainable development goals can be reached. As sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices are critical for this transformation, the present study maps previous research on SSCM in tourism within a systematic literature review. Based on an analysis of 44 peer-reviewed journal papers, we found a strong emphasis on tour operators, hotels, and transport providers being concerned with practicing SSCM while actors managing the destination (e.g., Destination Management Organizations) have rarely been studied. Sustainability practices in TSCs can be enhanced by linking traditional and non-traditional actors on the multiple tiers and levels of a tourist destination. We accordingly propose potential research avenues to stimulate future research activities.