Systems of tourism sustainability indicators: A comparative analysis of the international, European, and Spanish proposals

<p>International tourism has become a global phenomenon, with over 1.3 billion arrivals recorded in 2023. However, this remarkable growth comes with significant economic, social, and environmental costs. In response, the adoption of sustainable tourism models has emerged as a key priority on international policy agendas. To support this effort, various indicator systems have been developed to define, measure, and manage tourism sustainability at destination levels. Despite a growing body of academic work on Systems of Tourism Indicators (STIs), comparative analyses of well-established frameworks remain limited. This study examines four leading STI frameworks: The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) guidelines, the European Tourism Indicators System (ETIS) developed by the European Commission, the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) led by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the Smart Tourism Destinations framework (DTI-Spain) promoted by Spain’s Ministry of Tourism. Our methodology involves an initial review of the frameworks’ design and content, followed by a comparative analysis highlighting areas of alignment and key divergences. The findings underscore a shared foundational structure across the four STIs, yet reveal notable differences in their overarching designs, particularly in the emphasis placed on specific components. In conclusion, while substantial progress has been made toward establishing a unified framework for assessing tourism sustainability, further work is needed to enhance practical implementation and address emerging challenges.</p>