Circular Tourism Entrepreneurship: A Framework for Sustainable Value Creation

ABSTRACT The convergence of circular economy principles and tourism entrepreneurship offers a transformative pathway for sustainable value creation, yet integrated frameworks bridging theory and practice remain scarce. This study develops a conceptual framework for circular tourism entrepreneurship through a qualitative approach conducted in two sequential stages: unstructured interviews with 17 experts in tourism, entrepreneurship, and management, followed by a focus group with 8 tourism practitioners. Thematic analysis of the integrated data revealed five interconnected themes: circular services and experiences, material and product flow management, resource optimization services, integrative digital platforms, and institutional and network empowerment. These themes encompass 32 concepts that collectively map key entrepreneurial opportunities across economic, environmental, and social dimensions of circular tourism. Theoretically, this research contributes an empirically grounded framework that elucidates underexplored mechanisms such as waste valorization and systemic redesign in tourism contexts. Practically, the framework serves as an operational strategy and diagnostic tool, guiding policymakers, destination planners, and entrepreneurs in developing sustainable businesses, fostering employment, and enhancing local community participation. By integrating multi‐stakeholder perspectives, this study provides a roadmap for transitioning towards more resilient and regenerative tourism systems.