Environmentally sustainable tourism development in mountain regions: A systematic literature review

Authors

  • Yusrizal Adytia Firdaus Engineering Department, Vocational Faculty, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java 60115, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61511/ecotour.v3i1.2026.3148

Keywords:

environment, mountain, sustainable tourism

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to integrate previous research findings and focus on comprehensive considerations regarding sustainable tourism development in ecologically vulnerable areas such as mountain peaks in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze and synthesize the development of sustainable tourism in Indonesia by reviewing thirteen key academic studies selected from thousands of publications based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. This research is significant from an academic perspective and is aimed at contributing to the development of literature on sustainable tourism by discussing the specific context of the mountainous region in Indonesia. Methods: This research uses the SLR or Systematic Literature Review method to provide a comprehensive review of how the tourism business affects the environment and to find an overview of the concept of sustainable tourism that is more environmentally friendly. The steps of the SLR method are described in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol framework guidelines. Findings: Based on a comparative analysis of thirteen reviewed studies, this research proposes a conceptual framework for Environmentally Friendly and Improved Sustainable Tourism (EFIST) Indonesia's mountainous regions. This conceptual model highlights that the future of sustainable mountain tourism in Indonesia depends on how effectively these four elements—ecology, community, technology, and governance—are synchronized. Conclusion: The synthesis of this systematic literature review analysis culminates in the EFIST conceptual framework, which positions sustainable tourism in mountain areas as an integrated system, rather than a segmented practice. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study offers the EFIST model as a framework for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to implement more cohesive and future-oriented tourism strategies in Indonesia and around the world.

References

Aldossary, N. A., Alzahrani, A. A., Alghamdi, J. K., Alqahtany, A., Jamil, R., & Alyami, S. H. (2023). A procedural framework to identify critical indicators for the protection of environment and ecosystem during sustainable urban development in South-Western Saudi Arabia. Sustainability, 15(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010195

Alkhuzaimi, F., Wilson, C. B., & Wong, W. Y. M. (2025). Key factors influencing undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions of the use of learning management systems: a systematic literature review. BMC Nursing, 24(323), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02962-9

Andronache, I., Marin, M., Fischer, R., Ahammer, H., Radulovic, M., Ciobotaru, A., Jelinek, H. F., Ieva, A. D., Pintilii, R., Drăghici, C., Herman, G. V., Nicula, A., Simion, A., Loghin, I., Diaconu, D., & Peptenatu, D. (2019). Dynamics of forest fragmentation and connectivity using particle and fractal analysis. Scientific Reports, 9, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48277-z

ASEAN Intellectual Property Portal (2024). Indonesia. Retrieved from https://www.aseanip.org/resources/asean-ip-offices-details/indonesia

Bellanger, A., Matias, I., & Wac, K. (2025). Use of personal mobile technologies for peer-basedassessment of stress: a systematic literature review. EAI Endorsed Transactions of Pervasive Health and Technology, 11, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4108/eetpht.11.8941

Blau, M. L. & Panagopoulos, T. (2022). Designing healing destinations: a practical guide for eco-conscious tourism development. Land, 11(9), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091595

Chen, H., Xu, Z., & Fu, Y. (2025). Spinal cord infarction following neurointerventional procedures in the posterior cerebral circulation: a case analysis and systematic literature review. BMC Nursing, 25(232), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04255-9

Chylińska, D. & Kołodziejczyk, K. (2023). Wounded landscape: Environmental and social consequences of (illegal) motor tourism in forests on the example of worek okrzeszyna (the central sudetes on the polish-czech borderland). Quaestiones Geographicae, 42(4), 121–142. https://doi.org/10.14746/quageo-2023-0039

Dax, T. & Tamme, O. (2023). Attractive landscape features as drivers for sustainable mountain tourism experiences. Tourism and Hospitality, 4(3), 374–389. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp4030023

Du, Q., Guan, Q., Sun, Y., & Wang, Q. (2024). Assessment of ecotourism environmental carrying capacity in the Qilian mountains, Northwest China. Sustainability, 16(5), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051873

Gherdan, A. E. M., Bacter, R. V., Maerescu, C. M., Iancu, T., Ciolac, R., & Ungureanu, A. (2025). Sustainable tourism development in mountain regions: A case study of peștera village, brasov county, applying the analytic hierarchy process. Sustainability, 17(4), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041452

Herman, G. V., Banto, N., Ciaciora, T., Ungureanu, M., Furdui, S., Garai, L. D., & Grama, V. (2021). The perception of Bihor mountain tourist destination, Romania. Geographia Polonica, 94(4), 573–587. https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0221

Herman, G. V., Grama, V., Buhaș, S., Garai, L. D., Caciora, T., Grecu, A., Gruia. A. K., Hudea, O. S., & Peptenatu, D. (2021). The analysis of the ski slopes and the degree of economic dependence induced by winter sports tourism. The case of Romania. Sustainability, 13(24), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413698

Hidayat, C., Arafah, W., Perwita, A. A. B., & Rahmanita, M. (2023). Tourist perceptions of planning and design sustainable tourism in puncak. TEAM Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 20(1), 113–118. https://teamjournalht.wordpress.com/

Huang, L., Zheng, L., Zhang, L., Chen, J., Chen, Y., Fang, J., Zheng, R., & Liu, H. (2025). Landscape design and sustainable tourism at the wuyistar chinese tea garden, a world heritage site in Fujian, China. Buildings, 15(7), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071112

Indonesia Point (2025). Indonesia map. Retrieved from https://www.indonesiapoint.com/maps/

Klein, C. (2025). The scientific discussion of stakeholder involvement in social return on investment analysis? A systematic literature review. Evaluation and Program Planning, 113, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2025.102678

Li, J., Feng, X., Li, T., Yang, X., Jing, W., & Cao, X. (2025). Seasonal dynamics of hiking activities in mountainous areas: a topography-aware sequential network modeling approach using crowdsourced trajectories. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 142, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2025.104726

Li, S., Liu, Z., Tripathi, V. C., & Hashim, M. A. M. (2025). An investigation of landscape of environmental education (EE): A bibliometric and systematic literature review. The International Journal of Management Education, 23(3), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101229

Malec, M. M., Wojtaszek, A. Z., & Kędzior, R. (2024). Can tourists’ preferences determine the direction of sustainable development in mountain landscapes?. Sustainability, 16(22), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162210133

Negri, A., Storta, E., Khoso, R. B., Colizzi, A. M., Acquaotta, F., Palomba, M., & Giardino, M. (2024). Sustainable geotourism in the Chiusella Valley (NW Italian Alps): A tool for enhancing alpine geoheritage in the context of climate change. Geosciences, 14(7), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14070175

Nichols, B., Ramos, E. M. S., Olsson, L. E., Friman, M., & Bergstad, C. J. (2025). Exploring the social impact of paratransit: A systematic literature review with a micro-level perspective. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 22, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2025.101584

Nowak, C. & Bertsch, V. (2025). Emission-based demand response in energy system optimisations—A systematic literature review. Applied Energy, 401, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126635

Sánchez-Cañizares, S. M., Castillo-Canalejo, A. M., & Cabeza-Ramírez, L. J. (2018). Sustainable tourism in sensitive areas: Bibliometric characterisation and content analysis of specialised literature. Sustainability, 10(5), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051525

Senese, A., Pelfini, M., Belotti, P., Grimaldi, L., & Diolaiuti, G. (2025). Soft mobility and geoheritage: E-biking as a tool for sustainable tourism in mountain environments. Tourism and Hospitality, 6(2), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp6020106

Stronza, A. L., Hunt, C. A., & Fitzgerald, L. A. (2019). Ecotourism for conservation?. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 44, 229–253. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-101718-033046

Vishaj, B. & Kuqi, B. (2025). The natural and cultural assets for preserving the natural environment in Nemuna Mountains National Park. Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology (EEET), 26(1), 216–224. https://doi.org/10.12912/27197050/195809

Wang, V. & Zhang, X. (2022). Study on the coordinated development of economy, tourism, andeco-environment in Sanjiangyuan. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2022(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9463166

World Economic Forum. (2019). The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019. Retrieved from http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TTCR_2019.pdf

World Travel and Tourism Council. (2024). Travel & tourism economic impact research (EIR). Retrieved from https://wttc.org/research/economic-impact

Zeng, T., Ma, L., Li, Y., Abuduwaili, J., Liu, W., & Feng, S. (2022). Source apportionment of soil heavy metals with PMF model and Pb isotopes in an intermountain basin of Tianshan mountains, China. Scientific Reports, 12, 1–13. | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24064-1

Downloads

Published

2026-02-28

Issue

Section

Articles

Citation Check