Luxury tourism is expected to grow faster than any other industry segment. Although scholarship on luxury tourism has expanded in recent years, much of this work focuses on its economic dimensions, often overlooking its broader sustainable, social and ethical implications. The relationship between sustainability and luxury tourism has received increasing attention in recent years, yet we know little about what sustainable luxury actually means, given the tension between exclusivity and responsible resource use. Furthermore, while many luxury tourists express concern for sustainability, there remains limited empirical evidence on how such concerns translate into actual decision-making or on the trade-offs they are willing to accept.
At the same time, the experiences of local communities and workers are largely overlooked, pointing to a broader gap around social inequality. Much of the discussion remains focused on minimizing environmental harm, with less attention given to how luxury tourism might actively support more regenerative and inclusive forms of sustainable development. Luxury tourism can amplify inequalities, concentrating wealth and privilege within exclusive enclaves while placing disproportionate burdens on local communities, ecosystems, and labour. These tensions between luxury value and impact raise critical questions about who benefits from luxury tourism, who is excluded, and how its growth reshapes societal dynamics, cultural authenticity, and environmental sustainability.
Technological innovation adds further complexity. Artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and other immersive tools are transforming how sustainable luxury is produced, mediated, and consumed. These technologies may democratize access and enhance personalization, yet they also raise concerns about authenticity, cultural representation, and digital exclusion. Additionally, there is a lack of robust methods for assessing the real environmental and social impacts of luxury tourism, while questions about the role of technology are only starting to surface, particularly concerning its environmental footprint and issues of access and inequality.
This Special Issue aims to advance knowledge and debate on sustainable luxury tourism by inviting research that explores how it is defined, experienced, and measured in today's global environment and across various contexts. We also encourage studies of emerging forms of luxury travel, including wellness, medical, and experiential travel, which bring to the fore new environmental concerns and tensions such as the commodification of care and inequalities in access to health and well-being. Research on sustainable luxury tourism, whether theoretical, conceptual, or empirical, is encouraged, particularly those that adopt holistic approaches and connect sustainable luxury theory with practical applications. Mixed-method and multi-method submissions are welcomed. Studies focusing on more than one country and culture, as well as those with a longitudinal approach, will be prioritised.