A framework-based systematic review of blue tourism literature: Current status and future research agenda

Purpose – With destinations facing ever-increasing challenges due to increasing tourism activities, understanding residents’ perspectives is critical for fostering a harmonious and sustainable coexistence. Therefore, this study systematically reviews the studies on residents’ attitudes toward blue tourism. Methodology/Design/Approach – Based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), this study employs a TCM framework to identify, assess, and synthesize relevant literature, theories, contexts, and methods the researchers adopt.Findings – The findings revealed blue tourism’s increasing attention and significance,highlighting its growing importance in the global tourism discourse. The systematic review of 81 articles suggests that social exchange theory was the most popular and widely usedto measure residents’ attitudes. Further, findings show that 50% were conducted on islands, followed by coastal tourism (25%). Other contexts were cruise tourism (17.5), marine tourism (2.5%), boat tourism (1.25%), and seaside destination (1.25%). Quantitative research designs account for more than two-thirds of the total (80%), with qualitative papers accounting for 15% and mixed method papers for the remainder (5%).Originality of the research – This review article identifies gaps in the current literature and recommends future research directions to enhance our understanding of resident attitudes and support for blue tourism, ultimately developing a resilient and sustainable knowledge landscape.