Tourism Entrepreneurship in Latin America: A Systematic Review of Challenges, Strategies, and Post-COVID-19 Perspectives

Víctor Hugo Fernández-Bedoya (), Miguel Angel Ruiz-Palacios, Monica Elisa Meneses-La-Riva and Josefina Amanda Suyo-Vega
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Víctor Hugo Fernández-Bedoya: Grupo de Investigación Sostenibilidad, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Alfredo Mendiola, Trujillo 13600, Peru
Miguel Angel Ruiz-Palacios: Grupo de Investigación Sostenibilidad, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Alfredo Mendiola, Trujillo 13600, Peru
Monica Elisa Meneses-La-Riva: Grupo de Investigación Sostenibilidad, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Alfredo Mendiola, Trujillo 13600, Peru
Josefina Amanda Suyo-Vega: Grupo de Investigación Sostenibilidad, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Alfredo Mendiola, Trujillo 13600, Peru

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the global tourism industry, forcing tourism entrepreneurs to adapt and innovate in order to recover. This systematic review aims to identify scientific evidence on tourism entrepreneurship experiences in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the review seeks to uncover key challenges faced by tourism entrepreneurs, the locations and types of tourism most affected, and to draw lessons from these experiences. The authors followed the PRISMA protocol, identifying 15 research studies on tourism entrepreneurship in Latin America. The review analyzed articles from seven key databases—Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo, EBSCO, Proquest, Gale Academic Onefile, and LA Referencia—focusing on studies that examined tourism entrepreneurship within the context of COVID-19. These studies employed diverse methodologies, including case studies, surveys, and data analysis. The results show tourism entrepreneurs in Latin America faced challenges like economic crises, business closures, and unemployment. They responded with biosecurity protocols, domestic tourism, and digital tools such as online platforms and QR codes. A shift toward sustainable models like ecotourism highlighted local development and conservation. The pandemic spurred innovation and resilience, with adaptability, digital transformation, and collaboration, driving recovery. Sustainable practices and authentic experiences are key to long-term success.

Keywords: tourism entrepreneurship; COVID-19; Latin America; resilience; adaptation; innovation; SME (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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