Future tourism policies formulation: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Systematic literature reviews (SLRs) on tourism policy (TP) formulation remain rare. This study conducts an SLR to identify determinants shaping future tourism policies. Using article comparative analysis, grounded coding techniques, and the PRISMA protocol, the research reviews studies published in English and French (1960–2024) across SCOPUS, Web of Science, and JSTOR. Thirty-seven key papers provide a conceptual framework under three policy paradigms: Fordist tourism policies focusing on mass promotion and visitor numbers, sustainable policies prioritizing long-term economic, ecological, and socio-cultural balance, and post-/neo-Fordist tourism policies enhancing competitiveness through comparative and competitive advantages. The findings highlight the actual weakening of Fordist approaches while reinforcing sustainability priorities and competitiveness strategies in future TP formulation. Substantially, the study advances the field by articulating an integrated theoretical and practical framework aligned with each of the three paradigms - promotional massification, sustainability, and competitiveness - which can be mobilized by both academic researchers and policy-makers in the formulation of future tourism policy architectures and programs.