Meaningful Work in Tourism and Tour Guiding: A Systematic Literature Review

This study aims to systematically examine the development of the concept of meaningful work within the fields of tourism and tour guiding. Using the PRISMA protocol, 31 empirical and conceptual studies published between 2009 and 2024 were analyzed with content analysis. The review explores trends in publication years, journal outlets, research designs, sample groups, and thematic focuses. The findings reveal six key thematic clusters that shape tourism employees' perception of meaningful work: (1) social contribution and service to others, (2) alignment with personal identity and calling, (3) spirituality and interpersonal relationships, (4) ethical leadership and value-based management, (5) job design elements such as autonomy and flexibility, and (6) environmental and social responsibility awareness. The review highlights that studies on meaningful work in tourism are still limited and fragmented, with very few focused specifically on tour guiding. In addition to offering a thematic synthesis, the study identifies several research gaps related to examining the relationships of generational expectations, job precarity, organizational injustice, and digital transformation with meaningful work. This review provides both theoretical and practical contributions by mapping the evolving discourse on meaningful work and offering future research directions to better understand its implications in tourism and hospitality contexts.