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This theme issue sought to find answers to the question: What should be the role of tourism education social structures to create and support collaborative learning environments and the tourism sector?

A thematic analysis of the articles in this collection draws together the key outcomes related to the strategic question, with particular reference to the contribution to knowledge, important to generate ideas and conceptual researches that will support institutions teaching tourism and hospitality. Archive research results and recommendations to encourage the collaboration of different stakeholders involved in sustainable tourism development. Most importantly to raise awareness of the question of what educators are doing in tourism education for social, organizational structures in learning environments and the actual tourism sector.

Two key players, the educator and sector has been challenged to consider their roles in education as well as depicting the role of social and organizational structures that support the students, institutions and the tourism sector. The main findings have proven the important role education plays for a truly sustainable tourism model, suggesting that it is not possible to create awareness of the sustainable development goals without incorporating them in the tourism education system with the support of information computer technology.

This paper reflects on the strategic question discussed in this theme issue, and it contains valid reviews, research studies by practitioners who are experienced in the field of tourism education with an opportunity to research, reflect and develop new possibilities in learning, mitigate negative points and increase positive tourism education roles for sustainable tourism development, in the destination and industry.

This study examines two crucial aspects of employability in the tourism industry, with a particular emphasis on contemporary advancements. The first aspect pertains to the emerging demands in the employability sector of the tourism industry, driven by technological advancements. Given the evident nature of this emerging trend, it is imperative to possess a robust infrastructure and comprehensive knowledge. The second aspect is to evaluate the level of education that industry employees receive in relation to the tourism sector in order to ensure sustainable development.

The study employed a thematic literature review to evaluate the significance of tourism education on employability and the necessity of adopting technology.

The findings deviate from the extensive literature search showed that Higher Education Institutions should prioritise ensuring that the new generation’s technological capabilities align with the traditional curricula in their respective fields, given the widespread use of personal computers and smartphones. Ultimately, students are increasingly expecting that technology will significantly impact their educational experiences and modes of communication for their future careers.

It is widely acknowledged that the most efficient approach to fostering learning is to exert authority over the learning setting, and educators should generate learning prospects for students rather than merely transmitting information and facts.

This review assesses two key aspects of employability in the tourism industry, focussing on recent technological advancements and the necessary skills for students' future careers.

This book is essential for anyone in destination management in the tourism industry or government. The book includes both theoretical and practical writings for stakeholders. In all chapters, we provide titles including pandemic and disaster descriptions, crises during and after disasters and the motivation and safety of tourists, the regeneration of the tourism industry only after the global epidemic, the revamp of the tourism industry as well as the existence of a reshaping, crisis planning and control upon crises as well as pandemic after the restoration of the tourism sector of the tourism industry, and tourism issues are discussed in the management plans of the centralization. This book provides cases and empirical studies that deal in depth with the current situation, challenges, solutions and future strategies after the outbreaks and natural disasters from a sustainable perspective, for readers with an equitable interest or involvement with the organizations in inquiry.

Riverston, Sri Lanka, is famous for its natural and cultural significance. The tourism industry is emerging there and expanding with more community engagement. Riverston being a community-based tourism site, this study aimed at discovering the perception of the Riverston community on tourism development further focusing on the market opportunities, challenges, and strategies for the way forward. Data were collected from the Riverston area community who engage in tourism through in-depth interviews with semi-structured questions, and the sample was selected based on the purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings disclosed that challenging the authentic culture, traditional livelihood shifting toward tourism, lack of awareness and knowledge of the tourism industry among the community, the impact of legal restrictions on the community, and lack of education are the sociocultural challenges for the community on tourism development. The Riverston area is getting developed in terms of infrastructure with tourism development, and that benefits the living conditions of the community. Further, results indicated forest conversation policies had impacted the community’s living in high magnitude. It persuades people to move away from agriculture to the tourism sector. In addition, the timely need for a well-planned sustainable tourism approach and awareness from ground-level tourism practitioners was underscored by the data set.

This paper aims to present the Azores tourism strategy and outline how local communities are centered at the heart of tourism development.

This paper analyzes the development of tourism in the Azores Archipelago and how it contributes to value creation and retention, as well as job creation. It explores the role of local communities in the tourism experience, and the strategic options on the 2030 horizon.

Tourism has become a main driver for economic growth and social prosperity in the Azores, with sustainability acting as a definitive driver of tourism development. However, to fully leverage the potential of tourism to impact local communities and the regional economy, it is of the utmost importance to stimulate the dispersal of inbound tourism across the nine islands. This will help to spread out value and job creation, help in reducing pressure on fragile resources and at the same time, mitigate seasonality and provide more stable income throughout the year.

A new approach to tourism development is proposed, where the success of tourism is to be measured by the quality of the tourist experience and the benefits that tourism adds to the Azores, assigning the local community with a central role in decision-making processes related to tourism. To reinforce the focus on the sustainable development of the territory, anchored on its certification as a sustainable tourist destination, the first archipelago in the world with this distinction, a strong focus on Nature (Land and Sea), is adopted as the main priority. Communication with the end consumer is strongly proposed as a way of stimulating the desire to travel, supported by the positioning proposed in the new tourism strategy (PEMTA, 2030) – Azores: Nine islands, the experience of a lifetime.

Traditionally vision-focused, tourism effectively ignores the other senses. With tourists travelling to “see” places, an understanding of how people with vision impairment or blindness (PwVIB) experience tourism is currently lacking. Borrowing from psychology, this viewpoint proposes innovative research approaches to address this knowledge gap, clarifying how PwVIB psychologically experience tourism, enabling tourism professionals to design meaningful and appropriate tourism products and services for this market.

Reviewing extant literature on the tourist experience of PwVIB, this study highlights the existing knowledge gaps regarding understanding how PwVIB experience tourism, proposing alternative theoretical approaches and methodologies for use in future studies.

Alternative research approaches, borrowed from psychology, are proposed to address this knowledge gap and clarify our understanding of how PwVIB experience tourism, serving as a call to action for researchers to attack this issue in innovative ways. An example study, using a mental imagery approach is discussed by way of illustration of how such techniques could be applied.

Highlighting a gap in the understanding of tourist experiences of PwVIB, this viewpoint proposes the adoption of innovative research methods from psychology as a means of delving into the cognitive and conceptual processes involved, offering a new perspective on how to address this important and topical issue and contribute to the design of inclusive and meaningful tourism experiences for this demographic.

This study aims to discuss the idea of a rethinking of tourism, as proposed in the academic literature, in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, to evaluate the rationale for such a process and to consider by and for whom such a rethink should be undertaken.

This is a viewpoint paper, interpreting the literature on the topic of refocusing and rethinking tourism in general and identifying issues arising from such arguments – in particular, the impact of such a process on tourists and their destinations.

Whilst a rethink of tourism is appropriate and necessary in many respects, the rationale and goals of such a process need to be made specific and focussed rather than general and based on interest groups' preferences and beliefs.

Much of the discussion about rethinking tourism has focussed on what is perceived to be wrong with tourism by the various interest groups rather than what the goal and value of a refocus might be. This paper questions that approach and argues for change at local and specific levels rather than a sweeping and generalised approach.

The purpose of this article is to critically review the contributions made by the global trends issue participants on how tourism will impact people and planet and so provide answers to the strategic question defined for this global trends issue.

A content analysis of the papers selected was performed to identify the most significant ideas and proposals and how they may contribute to knowledge and/or professional practice.

As the tourism industry prepares to reach new records, there is a clear need to rethink tourism in the post COVID-19 era. The option of following a traditional pre-pandemic model of tourism development and growth is no longer productive, instead organizations and destinations must take the opportunity to develop a model where society takes center stage, the resources are used in a sustainable way and the results are distributed amongst all those involved in the tourism value chain.

In this concluding article the authors, supported by the views and proposals of the entire writing team, provide answers to the strategic question, thus demonstrating how tourism will affect people and planet in the short and medium terms.