Conception and Integration of Sustainability and Sustainable Tourism Development: A Comprehensive Review of Literatures

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the conception and integration of sustainability in sustainable tourism development, with a particular focus on its alignment with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The review explores how sustainability principles are incorporated into tourism practices, emphasizing the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Using a systematic search of peer-reviewed journal articles, books, reports, and conference papers of the most recent decades, the study examines key themes, theoretical frameworks, case studies, and best practices in sustainable tourism.The findings highlight the role of sustainable tourism in advancing global development goals, particularly in reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, and conserving biodiversity, as outlined in the MDGs and SDGs. The review also sheds light on how sustainable tourism contributes to the achievement of SDG targets. All the 17 goals are analyzed with sustainability needs in development of tourism, such as responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17). Additionally, the paper identifies significant gaps in the literature, including the need for more localized research and stronger metrics for evaluating sustainable tourism’s impact on global goals.