Current Issues in Tourism

Submission Instructions

Submission Requirements for Full Papers and Research Notes

To strengthen the relevance, policy value, and empirical contribution of this special issue, submissions must meet the following criteria:

 

1.     Explicit SDG Alignment

• Papers must clearly specify which SDG(s) (e.g., SDG 8, SDG 12, SDG 13) and, where relevant, which SDG targets are explicitly addressed.
• General references to “sustainability” or “SDGs broadly” are not sufficient.

2.     Focus on SDG Implementation and Interventions

• Studies must examine how SDG initiatives are implemented and the resulting effects, impacts, and or behaviours, rather than attitudes or intentions.
• Submissions should explicitly address SDG interventions at one or more of the following levels:
  • National / policy level
  • Destination / community level
  • Organisational / enterprise level (e.g., hotels, attractions, events, DMOs)
  • Individual level (e.g., employees, tourists, community members)

3.     Empirical Evidence Based on Actual Behaviour

• Only empirical studies are accepted.
• Papers must focus on observed actions, practices, decisions, or outcomes, rather than behavioural intentions, perceptions, or hypothetical scenarios.
• Acceptable methods include (but are not limited to):
  • Experimental studies
  • Observational studies
  • Longitudinal designs
  • Mixed methods
  • Qualitative interviews with implementers and stakeholders
  • Programme or policy evaluations

4.     Balanced Evaluation of SDGs

• Submissions must critically assess both the positive and negative consequences of SDG implementation, including:
  • Trade-offs, tensions, or unintended outcomes
  • Implementation barriers and institutional constraints
  • Power dynamics between hosts, tourists, organisations, policymakers, and other actors

5.     Analytical Clarity

• Papers must clearly articulate:
  • What SDG intervention was implemented
  • Who implemented it and who was affected
  • When and where it occurred
  • Why it was introduced
  • How outcomes were measured or evaluated

 

Explicit Exclusions

• Conceptual or purely theoretical papers will not be considered
• Econometric or macro-level modelling papers (e.g., secondary national datasets with no direct tourism intervention focus) will not be considered
• Studies focusing solely on intentions, attitudes, or perceptions without behavioural or implementation evidence will not be considered

 

Submission Requirements for Systematic Review Papers

In addition to empirical studies, this Special Issue welcomes a limited number of high-quality systematic review papers that provide a rigorous, transparent, and analytically robust synthesis of hospitality and tourism research aligned with specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Please also note that the assessment of System reviews that are submitted will be conducted in conjunction with Dr. Xin Jean Lim, reviews editor of CIT. Systematic review submissions must meet the following criteria:

1.     Explicit SDG Focus

·       Reviews must clearly identify specific SDGs and/or SDG targets addressed (e.g., SDG 8: Decent Work; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption).

·       Reviews that discuss “sustainability” or “SDGs” in general without explicit SDG mapping will not be considered.

2.     PRISMA Compliance

·       Reviews must strictly follow the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.

·       Authors must clearly report:

o   Databases searched (e.g., Scopus, Web of Science)

o   Search strings and timeframes

o   Inclusion and exclusion criteria

o   Screening and selection process (with a PRISMA flow diagram)

o   Quality appraisal procedures

3.     Use of Analytical and Bibliometric Tools

·       Reviews must employ advanced analytical tools to systematically analyse and visualise the literature, such as:

o   VOSviewer (e.g., co-authorship, co-citation, keyword co-occurrence networks)

o   Leximancer (e.g., concept mapping, thematic structures, discourse patterns)

o   or equivalent recognised bibliometric or text-mining tools.

·       Descriptive or narrative-only reviews without analytical mapping or visualisation will not be considered.

4.     Analytical Depth and Contribution

·       Reviews should go beyond summarising prior studies and must:

o   Identify dominant themes, theoretical lenses, and methodological trends

o   Highlight under-researched SDGs, regions, and stakeholder groups

o   Examine implementation levels (national, destination, organisational)

o   Critically assess strengths, weaknesses, and biases in existing SDG-related tourism research

5.     Forward-Looking Implications

·       Reviews must clearly articulate:

o   Research gaps and future research directions

o   Policy and managerial implications for advancing SDG implementation in hospitality and tourism

o   Opportunities for improving SDG alignment, measurement, and accountability

 

 

Explicit Exclusions

·       Narrative literature reviews, scoping reviews without systematic procedures, or conceptual reviews will not be considered.

 

 

Suggested Themes and Topics

 

We welcome submissions on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the following SDG-aligned themes and research areas:

• Reflecting on the First Decade (2015–2025) of SDG achievements and gaps.
• Critical reviews of how research to date references SDGs and where conceptual or methodological gaps persist.
• Evaluating tourism and hospitality’s contribution to all 17 SDGs, including SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through community tourism, local sourcing, and food redistribution.
• Examining progress toward SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) through wellness tourism, workplace health initiatives, and traveller safety.
• Assessing SDG 4 (Quality Education) via tourism and hospitality curriculum transformation, sustainability literacy, and lifelong learning.
• Policy coherence and alignment of tourism strategies with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), focusing on governance, transparency, and ethical practices.
• Reviewing the role of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) in sustainable destination design, transport systems, and smart tourism.
• Integrating SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through inclusive recruitment, fair wages, and leadership opportunities.
• Advancing SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) via food waste management, circular hospitality systems, and sustainable event management.
• Strengthening SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by aligning urban tourism, heritage conservation, and destination capacity management.
• Building SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through cross-sector collaborations among government, academia, and private enterprises.
• Linking SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) to energy-efficient hotel design, water conservation, and waste-water reuse.
• Exploring SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through carbon-neutral travel, biodiversity protection, and eco-restoration tourism.
• Applying SDG 9 (Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 16 (Institutions) in AI-driven sustainability measurement, blockchain transparency, and smart destination governance.
• Embedding SDG 3 (Health) and SDG 11 (Communities) in wellness, resilience, and crisis recovery frameworks.
• Integrating ethical, cultural, and spiritual perspectives on sustainability to support SDG 4 (Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships).
• Reimagining the Future Beyond 2030: Regenerative, Technological, and Ethical Horizons
• Conceptualising post-SDG paradigms such as regenerative tourism, circular hospitality, etc.
• Examining the intersections of sustainability with digital transformation, big data, and tourism intelligence systems.
• Advancing theory, methods, and measurement for SDG research
• Developing cross-SDG frameworks and metrics to capture interlinkages (e.g., SDG 8–12–13 synergies).
• Big data analytics, AI, and social media mining for SDG progress tracking and destination reporting.
• Comparative cross-national or longitudinal studies assessing tourism’s SDG impact.
• Theorising host–guest–destination dynamics as a holistic system contributing to SDG 1–17 interdependence.

 

 

 

Important Dates

• Abstract (Systematic Review) Submission Deadline (one-page limit): 1^st May, 2026
• Abstract (Full Paper and Research Note) Submission Deadline (one-page limit): 1^st July, 2026
• Full Manuscript Submission Deadline: 1^st Dec, 2026
• Review Process: Jan - June 2027
• Selected Manuscripts Published: late 2027

 

Submission Guidelines

All submissions to this Special Issue will follow a two-stage review process to ensure strong alignment with the aims, scope, and quality standards of Current Issues in Tourism (CIT).

 

Stage 1: Abstract Submission, Screening and Approval

Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract via email to Professor Edmund Goh ([email protected]) by the above dates.

Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract (maximum one page) outlining:

·       The specific SDG(s) addressed

·       The level of intervention (national, destination, and/or organisational)

·       The SDG initiative or intervention examined (what, who, when, where, and why)

·       The empirical approach and data sources, with emphasis on actual behaviours and outcomes

Extended abstracts will be assessed by the Guest Editors on a rolling basis to determine their suitability for inclusion in the Special Issue. Only abstracts that receive formal approval from the Guest Editors may proceed to full manuscript development. Authors of approved abstracts will be invited to prepare and submit their full papers in line with the Special Issue’s scope and requirements.

 

Stage 2: Final Manuscript Submission:

Once an abstract has been approved, authors may begin working on their full manuscript. Selected manuscripts will be submitted through the standard Tourism Recreation Research submission portal. Details for this process will be provided to authors upon acceptance of their abstracts. Submission Guidelines can be found on the CIT homepage.

 

Enquiries:

Please contact Professor Edmund Goh, Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy, Les Roches ([email protected]).

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