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Business Models and Sustainability in Nature Tourism: A Systematic Review of the Literature

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  • Samira Sahebalzamani

    (The School of Business and Economics, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9510 Alta, Norway)

  • Giovanna Bertella

    (The School of Business and Economics, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway)

Abstract

This study explores the business model literature within nature tourism, focuses on its sustainability-related aspects, and adopts some of the results of the literature review by Reinhold et al. The research questions concern how scholars use and operationalize the business model concept in the context of nature tourism, and to what extent sustainability-related aspects are included and discussed. A literature review was conducted including a total of 18 scientific articles from various disciplines. The findings suggest that scientific literature about business models in nature tourism is very limited, both in relation to the number of articles and their content. With regard to the latter, the business model concept is sometimes adopted without any clear definition, sustainability-related aspects—especially those relative to the environmental dimension—are scarcely discussed, the perspective adopted is usually static, and innovation for sustainability is only marginally included. This indicates a clear gap in the literature and a considerable potential for future studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Samira Sahebalzamani & Giovanna Bertella, 2018. "Business Models and Sustainability in Nature Tourism: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:9:p:3226-:d:168770
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francisco González Santa Cruz & Pablo Torres-Matovelle & Gina Molina-Molina & Jesús Claudio Pérez Gálvez, 2019. "Tourist Clusters in a Developing Country in South America: The Case of Manabì Province, Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Danilo Brozovic, 2020. "Business model based on strong sustainability: Insights from an empirical study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 763-778, February.
    3. Gabriela Koľveková & Erika Liptáková & Ľubomír Štrba & Branislav Kršák & Csaba Sidor & Michal Cehlár & Samer Khouri & Marcel Behún, 2019. "Regional Tourism Clustering Based on the Three Ps of the Sustainability Services Marketing Matrix: An Example of Central and Eastern European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Laura Serrano & Antonio Sianes & Antonio Ariza-Montes, 2019. "Using Bibliometric Methods to Shed Light on the Concept of Sustainable Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-25, December.
    5. Samira Sahebalzamani, 2021. "Driving Business Models Toward Sustainability in Arctic Nature Tourism," RAC - Revista de Administração Contemporânea (Journal of Contemporary Administration), ANPAD - Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Administração, vol. 25(3), pages 190384-1903.
    6. Soares Jorge & Nunes Naidea, 2020. "Levada walks and canyoning as mountain sport products in nature tourism," European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Sciendo, vol. 10(1), pages 41-55, May.
    7. Amoussohoui, Rico & Arouna, Aminou & Bavorova, Miroslava & Tsangari, Haritini & Banout, Jan, 2022. "An extended Canvas business model: A tool for sustainable technology transfer and adoption," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Yufeng Chen & Biao Zheng, 2019. "What Happens after the Rare Earth Crisis: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-26, March.
    9. Angelo Presenza & Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli & Angelo Natalicchio, 2019. "Business Model Innovation for Sustainability. Highlights from the Tourism and Hospitality Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-5, January.
    10. Aureli, Selena & Del Baldo, Mara, 2019. "The changing role of convention bureaus: An analysis of business models currently adopted by privately owned CBS," MPRA Paper 93996, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Asterios Stroumpoulis & Evangelia Kopanaki & George Karaganis, 2021. "Examining the Relationship between Information Systems, Sustainable SCM, and Competitive Advantage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, October.
    12. Hernández Gil, Cristian & Millán Rojas, Edwin Eduardo & García Capdevilla, Diana Ali, 2023. "Determinantes estratégicos para el ecoturismo a partir de la pandemia covid-19," Revista Tendencias, Universidad de Narino, vol. 24(2), pages 60-85, July.
    13. Noemi Sinkovics & Denanjalee Gunaratne & Rudolf R. Sinkovics & Francisco-Jose Molina-Castillo, 2021. "Sustainable Business Model Innovation: An Umbrella Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-17, June.

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