THE NEED FOR BUSINESS MODELS IN ACCESSIBLE, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Abstract

Objective: Accessible, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism has gained significant prominence, reflecting a growing global awareness of the need for inclusive and environmentally responsible travel practices. The literature gap found regarding the absence of a comprehensive business model is the main goal of this research. Theoretical Framework: This study systematically compiled and evaluated the recent research studies on Accessible, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism to contribute to the evolution of business models in the broader scope of tourism and tourism services. Method: A three-step process was followed to achieve this goal, comprising an initial research phase and a detailed performance analysis using various bibliometric techniques and visualisation tools, culminating in carefully selecting pertinent articles. Results and Discussion: The study confirmed the scarcity of articles that address this topic, with a tendency to conceptualise entirely new business models instead of adapting existing frameworks with new value propositions making them more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research provided insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of tourism. These implications could encompass all tourism areas, from hospitality to restaurant offers. It presents an important managerial clue to guarantee the tourism businesses' true inclusiveness and sustainable characteristics. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by filling a gap. The relevance and value of this research are its managerial contributions, which confirm the need to incorporate characteristics of accessibility, inclusion and sustainability into any tourism business model.