BEST PAPER

International Conference on Social Science and

Humanities (ICSSH), Singapore
07-08 November 2016

Anna Farmaki
GICICSSH1608081

CSR in Tourism: Progressing the research agenda

Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus
Abstract: The popularity of sustainability in tourism is unquestionable, as exemplified by
innumerous academic articles and private initiatives. Nonetheless, the challenged practical
application of the sustainable tourism paradigm has shifted focus in recent year towards the
need to transfer responsibility onto industry stakeholders. Specifically, scholars highlight
the necessity for responsible modes of production on behalf of administrators, entrepreneurs,
managers and employees. Consequently, CSR practices have become highly popular among
tourism companies. Through the adoption of CSR practices tourism stakeholders become
accountable to all stakeholders in economic, ethical, social and environmental terms.
Although research on CSR in tourism is still at early stages, it is growing offering empirical
insights that may inform tourism managers. The need to examine the insights generated by
the existing array of work on CSR in tourism is imminent if the research agenda is to
progress in a fruitful way. This paper presents a review of CSR in tourism studies. By
identifying three research strands of CSR in tourism, the paper highlights the gaps in
existing literature and proposes possible directions for future research on this important
topic.