Climate services in the tourism sector: from data to service design and delivery decisions

Graphical abstract An infographic outlining climate services in the tourism sector from literature analysis to service design, delivery decisions, implications, and future directions. Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of climate services (CSs) in the tourism sector through a systematic literature review. This study synthesises existing knowledge to develop an integrative framework that bridges climate science and tourism studies while identifying pathways for demand-driven research development. Design/methodology/approach This study analysed 69 publications (2014–2024) from an initial pool of 895 articles from four major databases using bibliometric and content analysis. Findings The analysis identified three key components of CSs in tourism: climate indexes, climate models and information products. This study mapped stakeholder relationships, identified service delivery mechanisms and uncovered critical barriers to CS adoption. These insights informed the development of an integrative framework for understanding CS provision and use in tourism. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study highlight an overemphasis on data-driven approaches rooted in climate science, with insufficient attention to user needs and practical implementation. This suggests the need for interdisciplinary research with multidisciplinary approaches and theoretical frameworks to balance the current supply-driven paradigm with demand-driven approaches. Originality/value This systematic review provides a foundation for future CS research in tourism by providing a comprehensive framework for understanding CS development and implementation; identifying critical knowledge gaps; and proposing three strategic research directions: framework development, user needs assessment and tool design optimisation. These contributions offer valuable guidance for researchers and practitioners seeking to integrate CSs into tourism.