Possible solution to issues related to overtourism? Linking sustainable tourism practices to community well-being

Considering the global concern with issues related to overtourism, it is important to pay attention to residents’ quest for a more relational and holistic approach to tourism that promotes greater community well-being. Empirical works linking sustainable tourism practices to community well-being is limited, and emphasis is placed more on the economic indicators such as GDP as measure of well-being in tourist destinations. Thus, this paper investigates the interlink between sustainable tourism practices and community well-being from a relational perspective. This perspective does not only facilitate a bottom-up approach but provides a more holistic view that considers the subjective, material and relational dimensions of community well-being. Data collected from 20 in-depth interviews with stakeholders in two UNESCO- declared geopark were analysed to explore how sustainable tourism practices can address issues related to overtourism and consequently contribute (or deteriorate) community well- being.