ESG for Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism: A Theoretical and Practical Review With a Future Research Agenda

Abstract

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) MANAGEMENT HAS BECOME ESSENTIAL FOR EVALUATING CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY, GAINING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A GLOBAL STANDARD. DESPITE INCREASING IMPLEMENTATION, RESEARCH ON ESG IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM REMAINS UNDERDEVELOPED, PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON FINANCIAL OUTCOMES WHILE NEGLECTING THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS RESEARCH AIMS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL REVIEW OF ESG CONCEPT, PRACTICES, AND THEORIES. THIS STUDY ADDRESSES SEVERAL UNRESOLVED RESEARCH QUESTIONS, INCLUDING THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN ESG AND RELATED CONCEPTS, THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF ESG IN THESE INDUSTRIES, AND THE APPLICATION OF THEORIES IN TOURISM ESG RESEARCH. THROUGH AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE EXISTING LITERATURE, CASE STUDIES, AND THEORETICAL ANALYSIS, THE RESEARCH IDENTIFIES CURRENT LIMITATIONS AND PROPOSES DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE TOURISM RESEARCH ON ESG. FOR EXAMPLE, FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO INTEGRATE MICRO-, MESO-, AND MACRO-LEVEL THEORIES TO DEVELOP FRAMEWORKS THAT EFFECTIVELY MANAGE ESG IMPACTS ACROSS VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND BUSINESSES IN THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM SECTOR.