Abstract
Sustainable tourism can be the motivation to manage resources to satisfy environmental, social and economic needs through cultural integrity, biological diversity, ecological processes, social and economic equity, and general enrichment. Based on a systematic literature review conducted on research papers published between 2015 and 2020, and on the case studies contained within them (19 papers), this analysis focuses on the innovation drivers and sustainability drivers identified within family businesses in tourism. This desk-based research has made it possible to highlight how variable sustainability is present, albeit in a limited fashion, within family businesses in tourism; at the same time, it also shows how innovative strategies contribute to sustainable development. From the analysis, the correlations between family businesses, family dynamics, sustainability practices, innovation drivers and case studies were analyzed. The results show the poor implementation of innovative strategies, and at the same time, the presence of other variables that guarantee the adoption of sustainable practices. Important research gaps are identified, and future research priorities are suggested. Furthermore, the article is based on a collection of non-exhaustive literary sources. The implications for both family businesses and sustainable development are discussed.
Highlights
The concept of sustainable tourism can be understood as a way to manage resources in order to meet social, economic and aesthetic needs while respecting cultural integrity, biological diversity and essential ecological processes [1,2]
The unique family resources and dynamics and the intergenerational nature of family businesses lead to a greater sensitivity of these companies to the social and ecological dynamics that manifest themselves in the decision-making process
The case study analysis and the research design contributed to our critical examination
Summary
The concept of sustainable tourism can be understood as a way to manage resources in order to meet social, economic and aesthetic needs while respecting cultural integrity, biological diversity and essential ecological processes [1,2]. The family business is a business managed and governed by members of the same family—or by a few families—in a sustainable way throughout the family’s generations, with the aim of pursuing the vision of the business they hold [11,12]. Businesses in tourism have a culture of accompanying members in a decision that affects their activity, since such members are often united and ready to engage in business; in this way, they strengthen the sustainability of the business [12]. The importance of innovation in terms of business success has previously been underlined, but a new strand has begun to study business model innovation in terms of sustainability and environmental impact [5,13]
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