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Circular Economy in tourism: Challenges and opportunities for a sustainable future; [Economía Circular en el turismo: Desafíos y oportunidades para un futuro sostenible]

PASOS Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural | 2026

Paper Details

Authors: Pacheco M.E.T.; Mayorga L.V.L.; Parra-Orobio B.A.; Mejia-Parada C.; Alvarez J.; Saavedra-Pasaje C.; Soto-Paz J.

DOI: 10.25145/j.pasos.2026.24.026

Journal: PASOS Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural

Year: 2026

Publisher: University of La Laguna

Document Type: Article

Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access

Cited by: 0

Abstract

The aim of this research is to identify structural gaps in consumption patterns and sustainable practices between developed and emerging countries through a comparative and systematic analysis of circular economy (CE) implementation in the tourism sector. Tourism, as one of the world’s largest industries, faces the significant challenge of balancing growth with environmental sustainability. The (PRISMA®) protocol was used, which resulted in the selection of 52 relevant articles. The findings reveal that most of the literature focuses on developed countries, where ecotourism, resource conservation and circular economy business models prevail. The transition towards a circular economy in tourism requires stakeholder collaboration, although barriers persist such as high investment costs, regulatory obstacles and resistance to change. Nevertheless, significant opportunities for sustainable innovation in the sector are identified. © PASOS.

Keywords

Barriers; Circular economy; PRISMA review; Sustainable development; tourism industry