Tourism as a Sustainable and Economically Viable Alternative to Oil and Gas: A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65820/ejems-7vol2issue2-2026Keywords:
Sustainable tourism, diversification, oil dependency, environmental sustainability, resilienceAbstract
Purpose: This study assesses the potential of tourism as a viable and sustainable alternative to oil and gas dependence for economic diversification in eight countries: Nigeria, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Costa Rica, Kenya, Rwanda, and Thailand. It focuses on tourism's contribution to economic growth, employment, environmental sustainability, and resilience to external shocks.
Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles, institutional reports, and policy documents published between 2021 and 2025. Twenty-seven core studies from the selected countries were reviewed. Data were analysed through qualitative content analysis and comparative trend evaluation, focusing on GDP contribution, employment, carbon emissions, and resilience to external shocks.
Results: The findings indicate that tourism can contribute substantially to GDP and employment while supporting inclusive growth and environmental responsibility. In contrast, oil and gas are highly profitable but relatively less labour-intensive and associated with greater environmental risks. Tourism-led economies, particularly Costa Rica, Kenya, and Thailand, demonstrated greater resilience through policy innovation, economic diversification, and community engagement.
Novelty and Contribution: The study contributes comparative evidence on tourism's potential to support sustainable economic diversification across oil-dependent and tourism-oriented economies, highlighting the institutional and policy factors that strengthen resilience.
Practical and Social Implications: Oil-dependent countries should integrate sustainable tourism into national development strategies, strengthen green infrastructure, promote community participation, and adopt policy practices that support diversification, inclusive employment, and environmental sustainability.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Elizabeth Abidemi Akintade, Janet Temitope Asifat, Edward Ekundayo Akerele (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
