Implementation of the theoretical framework of the circular economy in the tourism sector

Tourism has led economic growth in much of the world in the aftermath of the global economic crisis. The circular economy (CE) is an ideal alternative to address the challenges that the sector must face to achieve a more sustainable model. Currently, the theoretical framework of CE has not yet been adapted to the tourism context. This paper fills this research gap by adapting the general framework to the specificities of this sector. The main contributions of this work are the definition of CE applied to the tourism field, as well as the adaptation of CE principles and strategies to tourism activity. Another relevant contribution is that 220 indicators have been analysed to assess their suitability for measuring the level of circularity of tourism activity. In addition, hospitality, food services, transport, leisure activities, and intermediation activities have been considered throughout the process. This is a remarkable novelty given that no previous work is known to examine the provision of the tourism product as a whole. The results show that in adapting CE to tourism, it is essential to consider the complexities of this sector, all stakeholders, and the different levels of the tourism value chain.