Identifying social value in tourism: The role of sociocultural indicators

Abstract

This research provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for indicators of tourism's sociocultural impacts. It's a Systematic Integrative Literature Review to identify the indicators of tourism's sociocultural impacts and its evolutionary trajectory toward social value creation and propose an integrative view to monitor these effects in the host society. We performed a co-word analysis to group 1339 indicators. Results shaped three blocks encompassing 36 subdimensions and seven dimensions. Block 1 groups sociocultural intangible elements, foundations for the local distinctiveness: sociocultural atmosphere and community identity; Block 2 gathers the tangible elements that support the sociocultural offer: Cultural heritage, and Community facilities; Block 3 groups the implications of tourism and community interactions: Community life, Empowerment, and Equity and inclusion. Findings indicated that indicators of tourism's social effects go beyond just benefits to the host society and carrying capacity. Tourism literature pushes a look at social sustainability, including Empowerment, equity, social and regeneration.