Uncovering the unseen: a multi-scalar scoping review of short-term rentals and urban transformation

Abstract This critical scoping review examines how short-term rentals (STRs) have transformed urban tourism research and proposes an integrated sustainability framework bridging economic, social, spatial, and governance dimensions. Building on PRISMA-ScR guidelines, it systematically maps 161 studies published between 2009 and 2025, identifying key patterns in the economic, environmental, spatial, and regulatory analysis of STRs. The findings reveal that while STRs foster tourism growth and local development, they also exacerbate housing unaffordability, gentrification, and overtourism. The literature remains dominated by data-driven methods, spatial analysis, econometric modelling, and machine learning yet exhibits strong geographic biases and limited integration across disciplines. Results highlight the growing professionalisation of hosts, the role of digital technologies in reshaping governance, and the urgent need for adaptive, sustainability-oriented regulation. By consolidating fragmented debates, this review offers a multidimensional synthesis that informs smart city planning, digital governance, and the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals in contemporary tourism destinations.