A Systematic and Thematic Review of Greenwashing in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

In recent years, greenwashing has been seen as a critical issue in the tourism and hospitality sector. This study is structured to systematically examine the literature on greenwashing in the tourism and hospitality industry and to establish a study identity. The study is based on the evaluation of 42 qualified articles from the WoS and Scopus databases using the SLR method, in harmony with the PRISMA protocol. As a result of the analyses, the research was classified into seven thematic headings: consumer perception and behavioral responses; employee behavior and internal effects; corporate communication and marketing strategies; strategic corporate social responsibility; critical approaches; greenhushing; and conceptual framework development. According to these findings, extensive study has been focused on consumer perceptions and behavioral responses, yet lacks information on environmentally friendly practices, employee behavior, and organizational structures. This study is important because it connects these different views, offering a practical model that works for both researchers and professionals. While the agricultural and retail dimensions have been well-documented, this study distinguishes itself by situating the analysis within the unique framework of tourism and hospitality.

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Publication Details

Journal
Sustainability
Published
2026-01-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031255
Primary Topic
Environmental Sustainability in Business
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

A Systematic and Thematic Review of Greenwashing in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Reha Kılıçhan, Bülent Yorgancı, Aykut Göktuğ Soylu, Merve Onur
Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability in Business
article

A Systematic and Thematic Review of Greenwashing in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Reha Kılıçhan, Bülent Yorgancı, Aykut Göktuğ Soylu, Merve Onur
article en

Abstract

In recent years, greenwashing has been seen as a critical issue in the tourism and hospitality sector. This study is structured to systematically examine the literature on greenwashing in the tourism and hospitality industry and to establish a study identity. The study is based on the evaluation of 42 qualified articles from the WoS and Scopus databases using the SLR method, in harmony with the PRISMA protocol. As a result of the analyses, the research was classified into seven thematic headings: consumer perception and behavioral responses; employee behavior and internal effects; corporate communication and marketing strategies; strategic corporate social responsibility; critical approaches; greenhushing; and conceptual framework development. According to these findings, extensive study has been focused on consumer perceptions and behavioral responses, yet lacks information on environmentally friendly practices, employee behavior, and organizational structures. This study is important because it connects these different views, offering a practical model that works for both researchers and professionals. While the agricultural and retail dimensions have been well-documented, this study distinguishes itself by situating the analysis within the unique framework of tourism and hospitality.

SustainabilityVol. 18(3)
Kayseri Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR)
Decent work and economic growth
Openalex Percentile: Top 79%
Environmental Sustainability in Business
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