Towards a Comprehensive Justice Tourism Framework: Integrating Multidimensional Justice

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Tourism Management, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Urban Management, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia & Centre for Research and Innovation in Tourism (CRiT), Taylor’s University, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The concept of justice in tourism has garnered increasing scholarly attention, yet its practical enactment remains underexplored. This study addresses three critical questions: What constitutes justice tourism? How can it be realized? And who bears responsibility for its implementation? Employing a meta-synthesis of the existing literature, the study develops a comprehensive framework that integrates the core processes, substantive dimensions, and enabling conditions of justice tourism, while also identifying the roles of key stakeholders. Justice tourism is conceptualized through the lenses of recognition, interactional, procedural, distributive, and restorative justice, with its substantive dimensions encompassing economic, social, political, cultural, environmental, and spatial justice. The study also interrogates the consequences of injustice within tourism systems. It highlights institutional, social, and individual capacities as foundational prerequisites for advancing justice in tourism. Moreover, it delineates the responsibilities of governments, public and private sectors, and civil society in fostering more equitable and inclusive tourism futures. By bridging theoretical insights with practical guidance, this research offers a structured and actionable approach for embedding justice into tourism planning and governance.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Abbaspur, S. (2015). Evaluation of regional impacts of urban tourism development in justification of spatial-locational inequalities of municipality areas case study: Tabriz [Master’s thesis, Zanjan University]. IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Alizadeh, B. (2018). Explaining of concept of spatial justice in Islamic city and its evaluation in urban development plans case study: Tabriz City [Doctoral dissertation, Tabriz Islamic Art University]. IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Azimi Amoli, J. (2011). Good governance analysis in rural sustainability case study: Mazandaran province [Doctoral dissertation, Tarbiat Modares University]. IranDoc.  https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Azizi, M. M., Zebardast, E., & Akbari, R. (2019). Analyzing environmental justice in Islamic utopian ideology to apply in Islamic urban planning case study: Rural foundation neighborhood of Safein-Kish. Journal of Studies on Iranian- Islamic City, 43(10), 5- 23. https://www.sid.ir/paper/177419/en
Barton, A. W., & Leonard, S. J. (2010). Incorporating social justice in tourism planning: racial reconciliation and sustainable community development in the Deep South. Community Development, 41(3), 298–322.  https://doi.org/10.1080/15575330903444051
Camargo, B. A. (2011). Justice and fairness in tourism: A grounded theory study of cultural justice in Quintana Roo, Mexico [Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University]. Texas A&M University theses and dissertations archive. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/2
Camargo, B. A., & Vázquez-Maguirre, M. (2020). Humanism, dignity and indigenous justice: The Mayan Train megaproject, Mexico. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(2–3), 372–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1758707
Chang, W. Y., & Chang, I. Y. (2017). The effect of failures of tourism services on perceived justice and repurchase intention. Journal of Interdisciplinary Mathematics, 20(3), 921–935. https://doi.org/10.1080/09720502.2017.1358891
Cole, S. (2012). A political ecology of water equity and tourism: A case study from Bali. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(2), 1221-1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2012.01.003
Dangi, T. B. (2016). Towards a robust framework of sustainable community-based tourism (SCBT): Exploring destination justice and equity as a part of governance, a case study of Bryan-College Station, Texas, USA [Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University]. Texas A&M University theses and dissertations archive. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/2
Dangi, T. B., & Petrick, J. F. (2021). Augmenting the role of tourism governance in addressing destination justice, ethics, and equity for sustainable community-based tourism. Tourism and Hospitality, 2(1), 15-42. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp2010002
Dorjsuren, A., & Palmer, N. (2018). Equity in tourism development: Procedural (in) justice and distributive justice in Mongolia, East Asia. Asian Journal of Tourism Research, 3(1), 58-87. https://doi.org/10.12982/AJTR.2018.0003
Durant, W. (1954). The story of civilization; Part I: Our Oriental Heritage. Simon & Schuster LLC.
Euronews (2024, April). Thousands protest in Spain's Canary Islands over mass tourism. Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/2024/04/21/thousands-protest-in-spains-canary-islands-over-mass-tourism
Everingham, P., Young, T. N., Wearing, S. L., & Lyons, K. (2021). A diverse economies approach for promoting peace and justice in volunteer tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(2–3), 618–636. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1924179
Fanni, Z., Aliadeh Touli, M., & Zahmatkesh, Z. (2015). The effects of tourism on urban sustainable development on the Base of Habitant's Views case study: Qeshm Island. Tourism Management Studies, 9(28), 39- 72. https://tms.atu.ac.ir/article_2504_en.html
Farmaki, A., & Stergiou, D. (2021). Peace and tourism: Bridging the gap through justice. Peace & Change, 46(3), 286-309. https://doi.org/10.1111/pech.12472
Fekri, F. (2019). Regional inequality and Iran’s tourism industry a comparative study: Northwest and Central Regions [Master’s thesis, University of Tabriz]. IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Firouznia, Gh., Roknodin Eftekhari, A. R., Diani, L., Parishan, M., & Asgharinia, M. (2013). Analyze of consequences of rural lands assignment. Journal of Geographic Space, 12(40), 212-230. http://geographical-space.iau-ahar.ac.ir/article-1-75-en.html
Fortenberry, B. R. (2020). Heritage justice, conservation, and tourism in the Greater Caribbean. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(2–3), 253–276. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1757684
Ghaderi Hajat, M. (2014). Designing the pattern to measure spatial justice in the country case study: Iran [Doctoral dissertation, Tarbiat Modares University].  IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Ghaderi Hajat, M., & Hafeznia, M. R. (2019). Strategies for achieving spatial/geographic justice in Iran. Research Political Geography Quarterly, 3(3), 25- 57. https://pg.um.ac.ir/article_26019.html
Giampiccoli, A., & Mtapuri, O. (2019). Conceptualising the contribution of community-based tourism to social justice and self-determination. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(1), 1-14.
Goudarzi, M., & Jomehpour, M. (2015). Pro-poor tourism: A strategy for concordant and sustainable development of rural communities, case study: Vali-e-Asr village in the vicinity of Persepolis. Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 4(2), 35- 49. https://jrrp.um.ac.ir/article_25956.html
Greenberg, J. (1993). The social side of fairness: Interpersonal and informational classes of organizational justice. In R. Cropanzano (Ed.), Justice in the workplace: Approaching fairness in human resource management (pp. 79-103) Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale.
Guia, J. (2020). Conceptualizing justice tourism and the promise of posthumanism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(2–3), 503–520. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1771347
Hafeznia, M., & Ghaderi Hajat, M. (2014). Spatial injustice and human hazards; case study: Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Environmental Management Hazards, 1(2), 131-148. https://doi.org/10.22059/jhsci.2014.53111
Hamidi, E. (2018). Analysis of the relationship between institutional and social capacity and spatial justice in the provision of urban services [Master’s thesis, Allameh Tabataba’i University]. IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Harvey, D. (1973). Social justice and the city (Vol. 1). University of Georgia Press.
Hezarjaribi, J. (2011). The study of feeling social justice and effective factors on it. Journal of Applied Sociology, 22(3), 41-62. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_18233_en.html
Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2008). Justice tourism and alternative globalisation. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 16(3), 345–364. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580802154132
Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2018). The potential for justice through tourism. Via Tourism Review, 13, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.4000/viatourism.2469
Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2020). Socialising tourism for social and ecological justice after COVID-19. Tourism Geographies, 22(3), 610–623. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1757748
Higgins-Desbiolles, F., Blanchard, L. A., & Urbain, Y. (2021). Peace through tourism: Critical reflections on the intersections between peace, justice, sustainable development and tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(2–3), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1952420
Higgins-Desbiolles, F., Whyte, K. P., & Tedmanson, D. J. (2013). Tourism and environmental justice. In K. Schwab & D. Dustin (Eds.), Just Leisure: Things that we believe in (pp. 91-101). Sagamore.
Isaac, R. K., & Hodge, D. (2011). An exploratory study: Justice tourism in controversial areas; the case of Palestine. Tourism Planning & Development, 8(1), 101–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2011.55404
ISNA. (2019). Transferring Naz Islands to the private sector; Destruction or development?! https://www.isna.ir/news/98072921148 (in Persian)
Jamal, T., & Camargo, B. A. (2013). Sustainable tourism, justice and an ethic of care: Toward the just destination. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 22(1), 11–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2013.786084
Jamal, T., Camargo, B., Sandlin, J., & Segrado, R. (2010). Tourism and cultural sustainability: Towards an eco-cultural justice for place and people. Tourism Recreation Research, 35(3), 269–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2010.11081643
Jamal, T., & Higham, J. (2020). Justice and ethics: towards a new platform for tourism and sustainability. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(2–3), 143–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1835933
Joghataei, F., Mousavi, M. T., & Zahedi, M. J. (2017). Components and dimensions of social development in development programs. Social Welfare Quarterly, 16(63), 55-88. http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-2726-en.html
Karimi Rastegar, M. (2016). The effects of land use change on rural tourism development case study: Central district of Tonekabon township [Master’s thesis, University of Mazandaran]. IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Kazemian, G. R., Farajirad, K., Roknodin Eftekhari, A. R., & Pourtaheri, M. (2013). Explanation the relation between institutional capacity and sustainable regional development case study of Boukan and Oroumiyeh counties. Journal of Geography, 11(38), 153- 173. https://www.sid.ir/paper/150444/en#downloadbottom
Khaledi, A. (2015). The analysis of the role of urban good governance in establishment spatial justice case study: Piranshahr [Master’s thesis, Tarbiat Modares University]. IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Khastou, M., & Yahaghi, M. (2018). Analysis of social welfare indicators in urban areas emphasizing justice case study: District one of Qazvin municipality. Human Geography Research Quarterly, 50(2), 297-315. https://doi.org/10.22059/jhgr.2017.60154
Kinyondo, A., & Pelizzo, R. (2015). Tourism, development and inequality: The case of Tanzania. Poverty & Public Policy, 7(1), 64-79. https://doi.org/10.1002/pop4.92
Lee, S., & Jamal, T. (2008). Environmental justice and environmental equity in tourism: Missing links to sustainability. Journal of Ecotourism, 7(1), 44–67. https://doi.org/10.2167/joe191.0
Liu, Y., & Tan, H. (2010, December). Research on the residents' justice perception of tourism development in world natural heritage area. In The 2nd International Conference on Information Science and Engineering (pp. 551-555). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICISE.2010.5691159
Long, H. A., French, D. P., & Brooks, J. M. (2020). Optimising the value of the critical appraisal skills programme (CASP) tool for quality appraisal in qualitative evidence synthesis. Research Methods in Medicine & Health Sciences, 1(1), 31-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/2632084320947559
Luh Sin, H., Oakes, T., & Mostafanezhad, M. (2015). Traveling for a cause: Critical examinations of volunteer tourism and social justice. Tourist Studies, 15(2), 119-131. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468797614563380
Mashhouri Afag, N. (2015). The evaluation of tourism planning role in creating or strengthening spatial-locational equity of city fruitions case study: Tabriz municipality regions [Master’s thesis, Zanjan University]. IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Mika, J. P., & Scheyvens, R. A. (2022). Te Awa Tupua: peace, justice and sustainability through indigenous tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(2–3), 637–657. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1912056
Morea, J. P. (2021). Environmental justice, well-being and sustainable tourism in protected area management. Journal of Ecotourism, 20(3), 250–269. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2021.1876072
Mousavi, M. N., & Modiri, M. (2015). Prioritization of the Islamic-Iranian justice indices in realization of land use planning and balanced development in Iran. Scientific- Research Quarterly of Geographical Data, 24(95), 17-35. https://doi.org/10.22131/sepehr.2015.15547
Mousavi, M. N., & Kahaki, F. S. (2017). Priority assessment of Iranian Islamic development indicators in the realization of spatial planning of Khorasan Razavi province with the justice based approach. Journal of Geography and Development, 14(45), 93-120. https://doi.org/10.22111/gdij.2016.2924
Mousavi, S. A., Taleshi, M., & Darban Astaneh, A. (2018). Development and accreditation of rural good governance indicators. Urban Management, 16(49), 511-533. https://www.sid.ir/paper/406437/en#downloadbottom
Nikpour, A. (2018). The effect of perceived organizational justice on employee’s productivity with mediating role of social capital. Strategic Studies in Petroleum and Energy Industry, 10(37), 209-234.  http://iieshrm.ir/article-1-613-en.html
Picciotto, L. (2019). Ethical and responsible tourism: a tool for promoting values and social justice: Two case studies of Sicily, Italy. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(5), 1-10.
Rajabi, M., & Khastoo, M. (2019). Realizability of good urban governance emphasizing the spatial and social equity case study: City of Rasht. Urban Management, 18(54), 197- 214. https://www.sid.ir/paper/92056/en
Rastegar, R. (2020). Tourism and justice: Rethinking the role of governments. Annals of Tourism Research, 85, 102884. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.102884
Rastegar, R. (2022). Towards a just sustainability transition in tourism: A multispecies justice perspective. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 52, 113-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2022.06.008
Rastegar, R. (2025). Regenerative justice and tourism: How can tourism go beyond restoration? Annals of Tourism Research, 111, 103896.
Rastegar, R., & Ruhanen, L. (2021). A safe space for local knowledge sharing in sustainable tourism: An organisational justice perspective. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(4), 997–1013. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1929261
Rastegar, R., & Ruhanen, L. (2022). The injustices of rapid tourism growth: From recognition to restoration. Annals of Tourism Research, 97, 103504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2022.103504
Rastegar, R., & Ruhanen, L. (2023). Climate change and tourism transition: From cosmopolitan to local justice. Annals of Tourism Research, 100(6), 103565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103565
Rastegar, R., Higgins-Desbiolles, F., & Ruhanen, L. (2021). COVID-19 and a justice framework to guide tourism recovery. Annals of Tourism Research, 91, 103161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103161
Rastegar, R., Higgins-Desbiolles, F., & Ruhanen, L. (2023). Tourism, global crises and justice: Rethinking, redefining and reorienting tourism futures. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(12), 2613–2627. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2219037
Rastegar, R., Zarezadeh, Z. (Zara), & Gretzel, U. (2021). World heritage and social justice: Insights from the inscription of Yazd, Iran. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(2–3), 521–540. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1782925
Razghi Rami, F (2015). Evaluation and assessment of power compact city in the rise of social justice case study: Bobol city [Master’s thesis, Mazandaran University]. IranDoc. https://en.irandoc.ac.ir/service-product/94
Rezaei, M., & Shamsoddini, A. (2019). Analysis of the relationship between urban good governance and social justice in urban areas case study: City Ferdowsieh-the city Shahriyar. Quarterly Journal of Environmental Based Territorial Planning, 12(45), 25-48. https://sanad.iau.ir/en/Journal/ebtp/Article/668101?jid=668101&lang=en
Roknaldin Eftekhari, A. R., Azimi Amoli, J., Pourtaheri, M., & Ahmadypour, Z. (2012). Presentation of an appropriate rural good governance model in Iran case study: Rural areas of Mazandaran province in Iran. International Quarterly of Geopolitics, 8(26), 1-28. https://journal.iag.ir/article_56067_en.html
Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2007). Handbook for synthesizing qualitative research. Springer Publishing Company.
Scheyvens, R. (2002). Tourism for development: Empowering communities. Prentice Hall.
Scheyvens, R., & Hughes, E. (2019). Can tourism help to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere”? The challenge of tourism addressing SDG1. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(7), 1061–1079. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2018.1551404
Schilcher, D. (2007). Growth Versus Equity: The continuum of pro-poor tourism and neoliberal governance. Current Issues in Tourism, 10(2–3), 166–193. https://doi.org/10.2167/cit304.0
Seyfi, S., Hall, C. M., Saarinen, J., & Vo-Thanh, T. (2022). Do international sanctions help or inhibit justice and sustainability in tourism? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(12), 2716–2733. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2022.2069785
Svari, S., Svensson, G., Slåtten, T., & Edvardsson, B. (2010). A DIP‐construct of perceived justice in negative service encounters and complaint handling in the Norwegian tourism industry. Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, 20(1), 26-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/09604521011011612
Taghvaee, A. A., & Bemanian, M., Pourjafar, M., & Bahrampour, M. (2015). Assessment of spatial justice theory of justice case: 22 districts of Tehran. Urban Management, 14(38), 391-423. https://www.sid.ir/paper/92135/en
Taleshi, M., Darban Astane, A., & Mousavi, S. A. (2018). Explaining the spatial pattern of rural good governance in Karaj Metropolitan. Geographical Urban Planning Research, 5(4), 585-606. https://doi.org/ 10.22059/jurbangeo.2018.245340.809
Tops, J., & Lamers, M. (2024). Just tourism transitions? Sustainability policy interventions and implications on Boracay, Philippines. Tourism Geographies, 26(2), 237–254. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2023.2289996
Torabzadeh, J. M. S., & Sajadieh, A. (2011). Understanding different types of justice theories based on the philosophical dimensions: An approach to determine the theoretical nature of the justice concept. Islamic Economics Studies Bi-quarterly Journal, 3(2). 59-95. https://doi.org/10.30497/IES.2011.1090
Uwayezu, E., & De Vries, W. T. (2018). Indicators for measuring spatial justice and land tenure security for poor and low income urban dwellers. Land, 7(3), 2-34. https://doi.org/10.3390/land7030084
Wang, S., Berbekova, A., & Uysal, M. (2022). Pursuing justice and quality of life: Supporting tourism. Tourism Management, 89, 104446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104446
Yiftachel, O. (1989). Towards a new typology of urban planning theories. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 16(1), 23-39. https://doi.org/10.1068/b160023
Zapata, M. A., & Bates, L. K. (2017). Equity planning or equitable opportunities? The construction of equity in the HUD sustainable communities regional planning grants. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 37(4), 411-424. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X16657874
Zarezadeh, Z., & Rastegar, R. (2023). Gender-leisure nexus through a social justice lens: The voice of women from Iran. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 54, 472-480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2023.02.003
Zhang, J., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Tourism and gender equality: An Asian perspective. Annals of Tourism Research, 85, 103067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103067
Ziaee, M., & Asadian Ardakani, F. (2021). A framework for leveling good governance factors in the sustainable development of tourism destinations case study: Maybod City. Spatial Planning, 11(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.22108/sppl.2020.123953.1520
Zyari, K., Rafiee Mehr, H., & Zareie (2020). Comparative assessment of quality of life from the perspective of social justice case study: Tehran urban districts 2 and 16. Human Geography Research Quarterly, 52(1), 1- 15. https://doi.org/10.22059/jhgr.2014.51267