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

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.

Business model based on strong sustainability: Insights from an empirical study

“…This “weak environmental sustainability” is fallible because it does not consider biogeochemical cycles in the natural ecosystem processes (Ekins, Simon, Deutsch, Folke, & De Groot, ), which might cause a situation in which economies appear to be sustainable even though they deplete natural resources and damage ecosystems (Ayres, Van den Berrgh, & Gowdy, ). Instead, businesses can become fully sustainable only by submitting economic and social aspects of any human activity to nature and, thus, de facto following strong sustainability principles that focus on the complete integration of environmental sustainability within core business processes (Sahebalzamani & Bertella, ).…”

“…Instead, businesses can become fully sustainable only by submitting economic and social aspects of any human activity to nature and, thus, de facto following strong sustainability principles that focus on the complete integration of environmental sustainability within core business processes (Sahebalzamani & Bertella, 2018).…”

“…Thus, there is an increasing need to introduce a business model based on the principles of strong sustainability, not least because strong sustainability is largely unaddressed in the scientific literature (de Oliveira Neto, Pinto, Amorim, Giannetti, & de Almeida, ). Essentially, strong sustainability treats natural capital as nonsubstitutable, both in the production of goods and as a provider of utility (Neumayer, ) and recommends a complete integration of environmental sustainability within core business processes (Sahebalzamani & Bertella, ). A business model based on strong sustainability principles (SSBM) would treat nature as its primary stakeholder and, consequently, reframe value flows within the business model having the constraints posed by the limitations of natural resources in mind.…”

“…Essentially, strong sustainability treats natural capital as nonsubstitutable, both in the production of goods and as a provider of utility (Neumayer, 2003) and recommends a complete integration of environmental sustainability within core business processes (Sahebalzamani & Bertella, 2018). A business model based on strong sustainability principles (SSBM) would treat nature as its primary stakeholder and, consequently, reframe value flows within the business model having the constraints posed by the limitations of natural resources in mind.…”

Tourist Clusters in a Developing Country in South America: The Case of Manabì Province, Ecuador

“…This is planned based on the enjoyment, knowledge, and protection of the heritage resources of the destination. This type of tourism feels responsibility towards the destination, actively enjoying the natural areas, trails, observation of flora and fauna and, ultimately, contact with the natural and cultural roots that are the hallmark of the local identity [42,43].…”