Rethinking tourism industry metrics in the Mediterranean region

This chapter presents a new framework for evaluating tourism governance and social success in the Mediterranean region, broadening the focus beyond economic indicators to include social and ecological dimensions. The post-pandemic scenario and the challenges of over-tourism underscore the urgency for metrics that reflect the broad impact of tourism on the region’s environment, culture, and society. We employed the theory synthesis approach, unifying sustainable tourism, stakeholder theory, performance measurement, and tourism governance into a cohesive model. Our multidimensional approach responds robustly to the identified research gap, providing social success metrics tailored to the Mediterranean’s unique socio-economic and environmental landscape. Integrating these metrics into organizational strategies increases stakeholder engagement and market competitiveness, fostering a culture deeply rooted in sustainability principles. This strategic alignment positions organizations to meet modern tourist expectations more effectively, thereby promoting regional prosperity. Moreover, applying this framework can significantly influence leadership decision-making, offering a blueprint for achieving competitive advantage through sustainability. Future research directions could validate this model in real-world Mediterranean settings to assess its practical applicability and effectiveness in different contexts, ultimately contributing to the literature on strategic management and business innovation within the tourism industry.