A landscape imagery framework for sustainable tourism development in traditional villages: systematic literature review

The pursuit of tourism-driven economic growth often leads to unsustainable practices that threaten the cultural and environmental integrity of traditional villages. Therefore, adopting development approaches that safeguard the heritage of these sites is critical. Landscape imagery has become a crucial tool for assessing and enhancing the visual quality of traditional villages, helping preserve their distinctive character while maintaining their appeal to visitors. Thus, establishing a landscape imagery conceptual framework for sustainable tourism development (STD) is vital for guiding conservation and decision-making. Through a systematic literature review (SLR) of 135 articles using the PRISMA approach, this study identifies 10 core landscape imagery variables that reflect the physical attributes and cultural meanings influencing how residents and tourists perceive traditional village landscapes. These variables are grounded in three theoretical foundations that explain how spatial legibility, cognitive and emotional destination evaluations, and cultural symbolism shape sustainable tourism outcomes. By integrating these theories with the identified variables, the conceptual framework shows that landscape imagery acts as the primary mechanism through which STD is understood, guided, and strengthened. Ultimately, the framework positions landscape imagery as an evaluative lens and a strategic driver that supports environmental protection, cultural continuity, social cohesion, economic vitality, and high visual quality in traditional village tourism.