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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.

The aim of this empirical research is to define blended learning (BL) in the context of tourism education and discuss its effectiveness in learning and, upon completion, the employability of graduates in due cause.

The qualitative research consists of 22 in-depth interviews with experts from the tourism industry and graduates. The sampling method was purposive (judgmental), and open-ended questions were asked in order to encourage the interviewee to be expressive and to share their views and opinions on what the impact of the BL program has been.

The study found that the most significant obstacles were a lack of funding, a lack of cooperation from the local and various levels of government and a lack of knowledge about sustainable tourism product development among local residents.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of the tourism schools and university departments have developed a combination of mixed learning to include online, classroom and sector experience, which can be summarized as BL. This research suggests that BL has provided for a blend of skills and, as a result, employable graduates.

This study draws on self-determination theory (SDT) and describes a study that elucidates how motivation can be fostered in the local management context. The study aims to provide state and local officials with a decision-making tool that allows evaluation of the quantity and quality of the public services by using SDT to interact with locals and students.

A qualitative approach and thematic analysis (TA) were used to find common themes and to develop an in-depth insight by gathering specific information from the point of view of local residents. In total, 19 interviews with locals were conducted using questions drawn from SDT.

The study found that the most significant obstacles were autonomy, competence and relatedness to intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as managing budgets, provision of basic services such as waste management, accessibility and support for local non-government organisations and local festivals and lack of knowledge about sustainable tourism product development among local residents.

Although there is growing knowledge related to environmental and social concern, the municipality's engagement level in this area is low. Hence, the study provides state and local officials with a decision-making tool to evaluate public services' quantity and quality through the SDT on locals and students, and it is significant to explain the application of SDT to the tourism service at the local level and its potential to develop sustainable tourism.