Sustainability Transformations in Tourism Destinations. A Deeper Look at Commonalities and Differences in Stakeholders’ Perceptions in Bocas del Toro, Panama

Tourism is a major driver of economic development in Panama, but concerns about its sustainability have prompted growing attention to stakeholder engagement and governance. This paper examines the diversity of stakeholder perspectives on the sustainability impacts of tourism in Bocas del Toro, Panama. The research aims to understand how divergent views on the current and future sustainability of Bocas del Toro as a tourism destination might undermine efforts toward a more sustainable transition. The research draws on transition theory and a multiperspective approach to assess sustainability visions. We conducted a mixed-methods study combining 301 surveys and 37 in-depth interviews with four key stakeholder groups: tourists, locals, expats, and service providers. Perceptions of tourism’s economic, social, cultural, and environmental impacts were compared across groups, and qualitative content analysis was applied to identify commonalities and divergences. Results show that while economic benefits are widely acknowledged, disagreements over environmental, social and cultural impacts persist. Environmental degradation and climate-related risks were under-recognized or deflected by most stakeholders. A shared vision for sustainability was largely absent, and perceptions of responsibility were fragmented. Trust in governance was low, and mechanisms for stakeholder collaboration were weak or nonexistent. The lack of ashared vision, limited stakeholder collaboration, and unequal attribution of present serious challenges to steering sustainability transformations in Bocas. These findings underscore the need for greater collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders to co-create a collective vision, improve ecological awareness, and diversity business to guide the region toward a more sustainable future.