Tourism Policymaking in Troubling Times: Sustainability-Driven Challenges, Implemented Policies, and Goals for Sustainable Development

Tourism’s vulnerability to crises underscores the need for new or adapted tourism policies that prioritize sustainable tourism development across ecological, economic, and stakeholder dimensions. While past research has highlighted the relevance of sustainable policies for tourism crisis recovery, the research gap lies in the actual implementation of these policies in response to crises. This study examines tourism policymaking in Europe by conducting a quantitative study with 181 tourism organizations responsible for sustainable tourism and its policy implementation. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were employed to reveal how tourism policymakers perceive challenges, the subsequent impact on implemented policies, and the intended sustainability-driven goals. Specifically, policies addressing environmental, technological, promotional, and personnel challenges have been enacted due to the climate change crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and financial recessions. These policies not only aim to pursue economic recovery but also contribute to the sustainable development of tourism, engaging key stakeholders and aligning with broader sustainability goals such as climate action and governance. This study addresses the underdeveloped area of sustainomics by contributing to the discourse on political implementation for sustainable development, providing a critical exploration of how tourism governance can enhance sustainability practices in crisis contexts.