From Decline to Growth: Sustainable Tourism and Community-based Initiatives for Local Development

Dear Colleagues,

Aim: This Special Issue, titled “From Decline to Growth: Sustainable Tourism and Community-based Initiatives for Local Development”, aims to explore the intricate relationship between tourism stakeholders and the impact of tourism on local communities and their livelihoods. This issue seeks to gather comprehensive research that can contribute to sustainable tourism practices by highlighting the dual focus on consumer preferences and the socio-economic benefits for local populations.

Scope: This Special Issue invites contributions that examine various facets of sustainable tourism, focusing on how consumer behavior influences and shapes local livelihoods. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, sustainable consumer practices, the role of local culture in tourism, economic impacts on local communities, policy implications, environmental sustainability, and innovative strategies for promoting responsible tourism. The goal is to foster a multidisciplinary dialog that bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing valuable insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers involved in sustainable tourism development.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of Sustainability, titled “From Decline to Growth: Sustainable Tourism and Community-based Initiatives for Local Development”. This Special Issue focuses on the crucial intersection of consumer behavior and its impact on local communities within the context of sustainable tourism. As global tourism continues to expand, understanding the dynamics between tourist behaviors and the socio-economic well-being of local populations is vital for developing sustainable tourism practices. This research area is of paramount importance as it addresses the need for a balanced approach to tourism that benefits both visitors and local stakeholders while preserving cultural and environmental resources.

This Special Issue aims to explore and elucidate the intricate relationships between consumer behavior in tourism and the livelihoods of local communities. Its goal is to gather and disseminate high-quality research that highlights how sustainable tourism practices can be enhanced through a better understanding of consumer preferences and behaviors. This subject aligns with the journal’s scope by addressing key aspects of sustainability, including socio-economic impacts, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship. By focusing on these areas, we aim to contribute valuable insights that can inform policies and practices in sustainable tourism development.

To ensure a comprehensive and impactful collection, we aim to include at least 10 articles in this Special Issue. Should this target be met, there is the potential for the Special Issue to be published in book form, further extending its reach and influence.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews that address various aspects of sustainable tourism development. Potential themes and topics for submission include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Sustainable tourism practices;
• Consumer behavior and preferences in tourism;
• Economic impacts of tourism on local communities;
• Cultural heritage and tourism;
• Environmental sustainability in tourism;
• Policy and governance in sustainable tourism;
• Innovative strategies for promoting responsible tourism;
• Community-based tourism initiatives;
• Social and economic benefits of tourism for local populations;
• Case studies on successful sustainable tourism projects;
• Population decline and its impact on local tourism;
• Localization of tourism practices to support declining populations;
• Adaptive strategies for sustainable tourism in areas with shrinking populations.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and collaborating with you to advance the field of sustainable tourism.

Prof. Dr. Chung-Hun Lee
Dr. Jae Hyup Chang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• sustainable tourism
• consumer behavior
• local livelihoods
• tourism development
• socio-economic impacts
• environmental sustainability
• cultural heritage
• responsible tourism
• policy and governance
• community-based tourism