Enhancing rural economic growth through tourism development: a scoping review on conflict and policy issues

The idea of promoting tourism as a catalyst for rural economic development is often suggested. However, this seemingly simple approach faces challenges and complexities, as evidenced by the inability of regional or local governments to effectively boost rural tourism growth through existing policies. Another obstacle encountered by many stakeholders in rural tourism development is prolonged conflicts between interested parties. To address these issues, this study aimed to investigate whether conflicts and policy complexities are the primary barriers to successful tourism initiatives. A five-phase scoping review methodology was employed to explore this question. The findings revealed that all forms of rural tourism development require appropriate policies to ensure sustainability. Additionally, the study emphasises the importance of enhancing and accelerating ongoing tourism development by effectively implementing existing policies.