Governance Fragmentation in Tourism Supply Chains: Barriers to Sustainable Destination Management
Volume 49, Issue 2 (2026), pp. 61–73
Pub. online: 2 July 2026
Type: Article
Open Access
Published
2 July 2026
2 July 2026
Abstract
Sustainable destination management increasingly depends on the ability of tourism stakeholders to coordinate actions across fragmented
tourism supply chains. However, governance in tourism destinations is often characterised by dispersed responsibilities, uneven stakeholder engagement, and limited implementation coherence, creating barriers to integrated sustainability management. This article examines how governance fragmentation affects sustainable management at the destination. The study adopts an exploratory qualitative case study based on semi-structured expert interviews with key tourism supply chain stakeholders, including destination management organisations, tour operators, and accommodation and transportation sector experts. Thematic analysis was used to identify governance barriers and potential pathways for improvement. The findings reveal that governance fragmentation weakens sustainability implementation through dispersed accountability, uneven participation, and limited coordination across sectors. The study argues that stronger governance integration, clearer implementation structures, improved role clarity and shared monitoring practices are essential for advancing sustainable destination management.