Tourism degrowth perspectives, drivers and policies. A systematic review

In recent years, degrowth has emerged as a theoretical and political alternative that has gained traction in academic debates. This perspective, advocating for a new economic model based on recognizing the planet's biophysical limits, has begun to gain visibility in the field of tourism, establishing itself as a growing area of research. However, the debate surrounding the topic is ongoing, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of the political approaches needed to address tourism growth and the key drivers of change. In response, this study conducts a systematic review of the literature (articles/books) from 2008 to 2025 to address these gaps, with two main objectives: (1) identifying the primary theoretical approaches underlying the concept of tourism degrowth and (2) systematizing the main drivers and policy proposals aimed at advancing tourism degrowth. Our findings show that there are four main perspectives, or clusters, surrounding tourism degrowth, with these highlighting the need for degrowth based on: 1) the biophysical limits of the planet; 2) the impacts of overtourism; 3) the (missed) opportunity of Covid-19; and 4) the need to promote new models based on premises of social and environmental justice. The main drivers of change (regulatory frameworks, markets, promotion, etc.) were also identified, as were the policies to be adopted, grouped according to their scope (command and control approaches; market-based instruments; soft policies) and geographical dimension. The text also discusses some of the main structural and policy challenges that the implementation of degrowth in tourism faces. • We conducted a systematic review of studies on degrowth and tourism. • We found four approaches, or narratives, in relation to degrowth and tourism. • The main narratives deal with environmental limits and economic redistribution. • Epistemological and educational changes are crucial for a post-growth tourism model. • This study opens windows for future research on informal and grassroots initiatives.