How has rural tourism influenced the sustainable development of traditional villages? A systematic literature review

Abstract

Rural tourism has been widely recognized as a means of promoting the revival of traditional villages and has been supported by numerous researchers. It has the potential to provide significant social and economic advantages, making it a popular strategy for rural development in both developed and developing countries. Nevertheless, a growing body of research has substantiated the significant disruptions that rural tourism has imposed on traditional villages. This study employed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) qualitative method to systematically analyze 92 papers from WOS and SCOPUS that investigate the impact of rural tourism on traditional villages. The papers were categorized into five groups: spatial, economic, sociocultural, and holistic. This categorization allowed for the identification of the purpose, theme, sub-topics, research methods, and data sources used in these papers, which in turn provided an overview of the characteristics and overall trends in research in this field. It compensates for the deficiencies of lesser reviews that just emphasize rural tourism as the primary catalyst for the sustainable development of traditional villages. Based on a thorough investigation, this paper asserts that the development of tourism in traditional villages should be differentiated from typical rural tourism sites that prioritize the preferences of tourists. The primary objective should be to prioritize the preservation of community values, with a strong emphasis on community participation. This should be done while considering the interests of various stakeholders and promoting a diverse range of livelihoods that are rooted in traditional practices. By doing so, the essence of authenticity in traditional villages can be reinforced, leading to a greater sense of connection and loyalty among tourists. The preservation of traditional village genes fosters a symbiotic relationship with rural tourism, resulting in a mutually beneficial cycle.

1. Introduction

Traditional villages, as a distinct form of rural area, have also been affected by the forces of industrialization and modernization. They have experienced rural industry restructuring, a decline in vitality, the out-migration of highly educated young people, and an aging population [[1], [2], [3]]. It is not surprising that rural tourism has become a catalyst for rural regeneration, given its numerous benefits [[4], [5], [6]]. As per the Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2022 Report [7], prior to the pandemic, tourism accounted for 10.3% of total employment (333 million jobs), 1 in 4 new jobs worldwide, and 10.3% of the global GDP. According to the World Tourism Organization, 80% of the 56 countries that have implemented poverty reduction strategies recognize tourism as a promising means of achieving economic growth, employment, and poverty reduction. The organization also considers tourism to be a crucial strategy for accomplishing the third-millennium goal [5,8].

Rural tourism has the capacity to improve the well-being of local residents, but it also carries the possibility of disrupting their means of making a living and cultural traditions, severing social ties within the village, and even necessitating the relocation of entire traditional villages [9]. Increasingly, research demonstrates a strong reliance on rural tourism as the sole means of revitalization, which can have a negative impact on sustainability. Discontinuing traditional livelihoods and relying heavily on rural tourism could make the community more susceptible to economic downturns or political upheavals, lead to sociocultural problems, and reduce the long-term potential for tourism [10,11]. Zhou, Han [12] emphasized that the essential prerequisite for sustainable rural tourism is the preservation of the naiveness and nature of traditional communities. Campón-Cerro, Hernández-Mogollón [13] argued that preserving and enhancing a local traditional culture is crucial for fostering social sustainability in the context of tourism development. According to Atun, Nafa [14], it is crucial to avoid the migration of local residents and enhance the social sustainability of the community.

2. Literature review

2.1. International charters and guidelines

Traditional villages have undergone a prolonged period of marginalization in terms of preservation and tourism development, spanning from the Venice Charter in 1964 to the Cultural Tourism Charter in 2022. The initial emphasis was placed on the physical remains of the cultural heritage, transitioning from a concentration on the richness of authenticity [15] to authenticity within a range of variations [16].

The recommendation on the Safeguarding and Contemporary Role of Historic Areas [17] proposed that the conservation of traditional architectural ensembles should be integrated into the modern society, allowing for the expression of local lifestyles. The Washington Charter [18] highlighted the importance of preserving the historical nature of the heritage area and safeguarding all tangible and intangible aspects that reflect this nature. The European Rural Heritage Observation Guide [19] emphasized that no heritage element can be comprehended independently. Instead, it should be considered in the context of social and agrarian practices, as well as the infusion of life through imagination. The Xi'an Declaration of ICOMOS [20] affirmed that the preservation of cultural heritage encompasses the interplay between the natural environment, historical or contemporary social and spiritual practices, customs, traditional knowledge, and the ongoing and evolving culture, society, and economy. This principle was also reiterated in the Conservation of Historic Urban Landscapes [21]. The Valletta Principles [22] condemned tourism for causing the erosion of cultural identity, depleting the substance of historic cities, and transforming them into mere destinations for tourists. The ICOMOS Florence Declaration [23] suggested that engaging local communities, acknowledging and honoring their cultural heritage, and embracing both innovative and traditional practices might enhance their ability to withstand and adjust to challenges. However, it is evident that the international documents pertaining to cultural heritage mentioned above mostly focus on heritage and historic towns, rather than traditional villages or rural places. However, there is a significant distinction between the two approaches. The former emphasizes restoration and reuse a once magnificent heritage, while the latter prioritizes the preservation of enduring cultural genes.

Prior to 2017, ICOMOS-IFLA Principles [24] considered all rural areas as heritage, after the inclusion of rural landscapes on the UNESCO World Heritage List as ‘continuing cultural landscapes' in 1992 [25]. The principles outlined in this document aim to mitigate the loss and negative alterations to rural landscapes and their associated communities by acknowledging, protecting, and enhancing their heritage values. Additionally, these principles strive to achieve a suitable equilibrium between economic, social, cultural, and environmental factors.

The revision of the 2022 International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism [26] was prompted by the pressing issues arising from tourism in traditional villages. This revision shifted the focus from prioritizing tourists' needs and the advantages of tourism [27] to prioritizing the preservation of cultural heritage and the rights of local communities in cultural heritage tourism policy and projects. The charter addressed the deterioration of cultural heritage, as well as the social, ethical, cultural, environmental, and economic rights concerns linked to tourism.

2.2. Rural tourism in traditional villages

Rural tourism refers to tourism activities that occur in the countryside [28]. It can be categorized into four primary forms based on existing research: urban-suburban tourism, scenic ecotourism, agritourism, and cultural heritage tourism [29,30]. Rural tourism in traditional villages encompasses several characteristics, although it is mostly categorized as cultural heritage tourism. Tourism, in conjunction with rural resources and traditional products, plays a crucial role in rejuvenating rural regions [31,32]. This is supported by the advantages of rural tourism outlined in Table 1. For traditional villages, it is important to view them not only as an industry, but also as a catalyst for the conservation and revitalization of rural society and culture [1]. Many European nations and other countries perceive rural tourism as a means to address poverty and ensure the long-term viability of local economies [32].

Table 1.

The advantages of rural tourism for traditional villages [[4], [5], [6]].

Advantages
economic	social	environmental
Diversifying the rural economic infrastructure Increasing rural income Decreasing poverty, inequality, and unemployment Optimizing the use of resources and facilities Promoting industrial structure transition Fostering the growth of rural agriculture, etc.	Promoting community participation Preventing rural depopulation Production of local handicrafts. Strengthening the sense of national and local pride. Preservation of the local cultural heritage and customs, etc.	The optimal use of natural resources. Protect traditional landscape. Obtain maintenance and protection funds. Improved public infrastructure and recreational facilities. Ecological protection of rural landscape, etc.

Nevertheless, Barbieri [33] expressed disapproval of the correlation between rural tourism and sustainable traditional villages. Research on sustainable tourism in rural areas has primarily concentrated on tourism development rather than addressing the requirements of local residents [34,35]. Consequently, sustainable tourism development has been approached from a tourism-centered perspective [36], with an emphasis on ensuring the sustainability of tourism itself [37]. The conservation of heritage and the long-term growth of traditional villages face difficulties due to the unavoidable transformations caused by tourist activities in these customary settings and the reconstruction of social structures in the human-land relationship [38,39]. Consequently, the examination of sustainable tourism development has failed to thoroughly scrutinize tourism as a strategy for development, although providing recommendations on enhancing the effectiveness of tourism development in local communities [34].

2.3. Sustainable development of traditional villages

The term “traditional village” pertains to communities that were established in the early stages and possess abundant traditional resources. These villages hold significant historical, cultural, scientific, artistic, societal, and economic significance, and therefore require protection [40,41]. A “traditional village” is comparable to an “ancient village,” a “rural settlement,” or a “characteristic village.” However, the term “traditional village” specifically refers to a historical village that is still inhabited by indigenous people, rather than being a tourist attraction or an ancient relic [42]. Consequently, the protection and development of traditional villages take place concurrently, exemplifying primarily a sense of continuity without appearing antiquated [43].

While sustainable development has gained popularity, its definition is intrinsically ambiguous and has varied among different persons [44]. Therefore, it is important to note that sustainable tourism, sustainable tourism destinations, sustainable heritage areas, and sustainable traditional villages are distinct entities within this particular field of research [43]. When sustainable tourism destinations prioritize the needs of both villagers and tourists [45], and sustainable heritage areas prioritize cultural development and protection, sustainable traditional villages possess attributes of both community and heritage. This allows for the development of communities that actively contribute to the preservation and continuation of their cultural heritage, rather than simply preserving or reusing it [46].

Sustainability seeks to attain enduring outcomes by establishing networks that harmonize economic, social, and environmental goals for communities, optimize advantages and disadvantages for crucial stakeholders, and refrain from diminishing the quality of resources [47]. Consensus among scholars and organizations is that ensuring the long-term sustainability of traditional villages requires the implementation of sustainable development, which involves striking a balance between the environmental, economic, and social dimensions [45,48].

While there is extensive literature on sustainable rural tourism development, it is important to note that the development of rural tourism in traditional villages might vary significantly from that in other tourist sites [49]. Additionally, several literary works prioritize the sustainable preservation of cultural heritage by emphasizing the distinctive heritage attributes of traditional villages while disregarding their communal aspects. Therefore, there is currently no thorough analysis available that examines the studies conducted on sustainable traditional villages in relation to rural tourism and the corresponding findings. This study aims to address the lack of research on the sustainable development of traditional villages influenced by rural tourism. To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted to examine the impact of rural tourism on the sustainable development of traditional villages. In order to accomplish the aforementioned aim, the subsequent research questions were devised. The research framework is shown in Fig. 1.

• 1.What are the typical research attributes associated with the transformation of traditional villages induced by rural tourism?
• 2.What are the effects of rural tourism on the spatial, economic, cultural, and social aspects of sustainable development in traditional villages?
• 3.What are the challenges faced by traditional villages in achieving sustainability in the context of rural tourism?

Fig. 1.

An overview of the research framework.

The structure of this document is as follows: Section 1 serves as the introduction. The methodology is described in Section 2. Section 3 of the paper entails a comprehensive evaluation and classification of the research findings, which is conducted through a systematic literature review. The subsections within this part encompass general observations and topic analysis, specifically focusing on spatial changes, economic changes, culture changes, and social changes. Section 4 discusses the findings of the investigation, while Section 5 presents the derived conclusions.

Current study on the sustainability of rural tourism mostly focuses on rural destinations that prioritize the needs and preferences of tourists. However, traditional villages possess both heritage qualities and a sense of community, necessitating that the advancement of rural tourism be centered around enhancing the social resilience of these traditional villages. Nevertheless, it fails to garner sufficient attention from scholars, the government, and village management. Thus, this study undertakes a systematic review to succinctly outline the present impact of rural tourism on the sustainable development of traditional villages, serving as a preliminary step towards more comprehensive investigations of real-life case studies in the future.

3. Methodology

This study attempts to collate papers that focus on the intersecting domains of rural tourism and traditional villages. Articles that discuss the influence of rural tourism on the sustainable development of traditional villages can address the research questions. In order to accomplish this, a systematic literature review was conducted, as it offers several benefits. As stated by Piper [50], it is a suitable method for identifying the constraints, potential, and attributes of the present study, and potentially addressing the research inquiries. This study utilized the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method, which follows a three-phase approach, to address the research questions [51]. This study did not register a protocol, as the protocol is intended to prevent wastage in biomedical research as per PRISMA guidelines, which are not applicable to this study [52].

3.1. Keywords Search

The initial stage of this study involves identifying a set of keywords that are aligned with the research aim, which is to summarize the influence of rural tourism on the sustainable development of traditional villages. The keywords encompass the concepts of “sustainable development of traditional villages” and “rural tourism”. According to the search experience, the term “traditional villages” can be substituted with other terms such as “ancient villages” and “rural settlement,” which are commonly used in the field of human geography. Similarly, the term “rural tourism” can be referred to as “tour” or replaced with the term “tourist destination.” The term “sustainable development” has gained popularity in various academic disciplines, nevertheless, it is a broad and ambiguous concept [44]. Hence, the search query excludes the term “sustainable development” as certain articles tend to concentrate on a particular development issue without explicitly referencing “sustainable” in their subject matter. The screening of “sustainable development” takes place during the second phase.

The study conducted a systematic review of journal articles using the prominent databases Scopus and Web of Science, covering the period from 2000 to June 2023. A keyword search produced a total of 1257 outcomes, comprising 1076 documents from WOS and 181 documents from Scopus (refer to Table 2).

Table 2.

The search string and results of the Scopus and WOS databases.

Search Engine	Search String	Results
WOS	TS= ((traditional OR ancient) village* OR rural settlement*) AND tour	1076
Scopus	TITLE-ABS-KEY ((“traditional or ancient village” OR “rural settlement”) AND (tour*))	181
Search Keywords	“traditional villages”, “ancient villages”, “rural settlement”, “rural tourism”, “tourism destination”

3.2. Data collection process and article screening

During the second phase, a comprehensive set of criteria for both excluding and including articles (as shown in Table 3) was developed to facilitate the process of screening out unsuitable articles. After eliminating duplicate articles, the remaining 1167 were evaluated according to the screening criteria, resulting in 998 relevant articles. This study specifically focuses on peer-reviewed journal papers in order to prioritize publications of high quality. Books and chapters were considered to have little impact on the advancement of knowledge. In addition, after examining the titles, abstracts, and keywords, a total of 876 articles were determined to be irrelevant to the research aim based on the criteria for topic selection. Ultimately, 92 publications were identified as important to the study (refer to Fig. 2).

Table 3.

Exclusion and inclusion criteria.

Screening Criteria		Topic Selection Criteria
Inclusionary	Exclusionary	It is fundamentally related to the interaction between traditional villages and rural tourism. Mainly focus on sustainable development of traditional villages rather than rural tourism Relevant to the research aim.
Journal articles Peer-reviewed Published from 2000 to June 2023 Published in English	Duplicate records Books and chapter Published before 2000 or after June 2023 Non-English articles

Fig. 2.

Flowchart of the operational process for article screening.

After conducting a thorough search and screening process, a total of 92 articles were identified and included in this systematic review during the third phase. Subsequently, a tripartite methodology was employed to classify the scrutinized literature into distinct subjects. Initially, the study themes were categorized and scrutinized in connection with the research questions. The second step is a comprehensive and concise overview of the research approach employed for each topic. The third phase identifies the key challenges discussed in the literature on the impact of tourism on traditional villages. The search and selection criteria for articles are collaboratively deliberated and finalized by the three authors, while the first author individually carries out the gathering and screening of papers.

4. Results

4.1. General observations

Fig. 3 displays the publication dates of the articles analyzed in this paper. It reveals that, with the exception of a single article in 2004, there was a scarcity of academic articles dedicated to the development of traditional villages prior to 2008. Between 2008 and 2014, the number of articles in this field experienced a little overall increase, but remained consistently low at an average of only 1–3 articles per year.

Fig. 3.

Number of reviewed articles per year.

Since 2015, there has been a growing body of literature dedicated to studying the sustainable development of traditional villages. This trend is a result of the recognition of the importance of preserving rural cultural heritage in developing nations, as well as the implementation of government initiatives such as China's rural revitalization and Three Rural policies, Indonesia's Desa Wisata Program, Iran's National and Regional Tourism Development Plan, and South Africa's National Tourism Sector Strategy. The number of publications in this stage increased steadily from 5 in 2015 to 10 in 2018.

The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on rural tourism in 2019–2020, causing it to remain static. This decline is also evident in academic research, with just 8 relevant articles published in 2019, which further decreased to 3 in 2020. In 2021, there were 10 publications focusing on the sustainable development of traditional villages in the context of rural tourism post-pandemic. This indicates that the topic continues to be appealing and highly regarded. The quantity of publications published within a six-month period in 2023 nearly equaled the quantity of articles published throughout the entirety of 2022, suggesting that this particular field of research remains a very popular and ongoing subject of interest.

This paper examines a total of 92 papers from a variety of sources, including 30 journals and 13 conferences. The distribution of these publications is fairly balanced across different sources, except for sustainability journals, which provide 14 of the articles under examination. The following list presents the ranking of journals based on the number of reviewed articles published by each journal (only including journals with more than 2 papers): Sustainability (17), Land (5), Journal of Sustainable Tourism (4), Journal of Mountain Science (4), Tourism Management (4), Land Use Policy (4), Journal of Rural Studies (3), Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change (3), Heritage Science (2), European Journal of Sustainable Development (2), and Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research (2). Table 4 displays the ranking of journals according to the quantity of reviewed articles in published journals.

Table 4.

The number of reviewed articles published per journal.

Journal Title	Number of Paper
Sustainability	17
Land	5
Journal of Sustainable Tourism	4
Journal of Mountain Science	4
Tourism Management	4
Land Use Policy	4
Journal of Rural Studies	3
Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change	3
Heritage Science	2
European Journal of Sustainable Development	2
Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research	2

The research on the impact of rural tourism on traditional villages was undertaken in multiple regions, as indicated in Table 5. East Asia had the highest frequency with 55 publications, accounting for 59% of the total. Southeast Asia followed with 14 papers, making up 16% of the total, and Europe had 13 papers, representing 14%. The study in this field was mostly conducted by the People's Republic of China (53) in East Asia and Indonesia (12) in Southeast Asia. These two countries are also highlighted as keywords in the co-occurrence VOSviewer map. Furthermore, The Middle East, Africa, Oceania, and America have each documented between 1 and 4 publications over the past 23 years. Regionally, research pertaining to the influence of rural tourism on traditional villages is primarily concentrated on Asia. Looking at it differently, among all the publications, 85 (92%) originate from developing countries while just 7 (8%) come from developed countries, which does not align with the academic standards of the respective nations. This illustrates that rural tourism poses greater obstacles to the sustainable development of traditional villages in developing countries.

Table 5.

The number of reviewed articles published per region.

Region	NO.	%	Country
East Asia	55	59%	The People's Republic of China (53), Japan (1), Republic of Korea (1)
Southeast Asia	14	16%	Indonesia (12), Viet Nam (1), Bangladesh (1)
Europe	13	14%	Italy (1), Russia (1), Bulgaria (1), Turkey (3), Czech (1), Sweden (1), Whole Europe (1) Spain (1), Serbia (1), Romania (1), Poland (1),
Middle East	4	5%	Iran (3), Qatar (1),
Africa	3	3%	Botswana (3),
Oceania	2	2%	Fiji (2)
America	1	1%	Argentina (1)
Total	92	100%

To investigate the research characteristics of this research field, a co-occurrence network was created using VOSviewer software. This network was used to analyze the prominent keywords that frequently appear together in the field of sustainable development of traditional villages under the influence of rural tourism. Please refer to Fig. 4 for a visual representation of this network. The primary keywords encompass rural tourism and sustainable development, traditional village and authenticity, community and sustainable livelihood. The definitions of these terms are provided in the subsequent sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4.

Fig. 4.

Co-occurrence map for articles related to tourism-induced traditional villages' changes.

4.2. Rural tourism and sustainable development

The emergence of the Romantic movement in the 19th century played a significant role in the initial development of rural tourism. Rural tourism in Europe originated in the 20th century, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement that emphasized the beauty of rural areas [19,53]. Following World War II, the United States, Japan, and Italy also initiated efforts to encourage rural tourism as a means of safeguarding traditional villages [54,55]. China, Iran, and Indonesia adopted similar practices during the latter half of the 20th century [55]. Rural tourism encompasses various forms such as agritourism, ecotourism, green tourism, responsible tourism, alternative tourism, and others [56].

The term “sustainable” is used in multiple domains, including rural tourism [57]. Rural tourism utilizes local labor and repurposes and enhances existing rural facilities and cultural assets as accommodations and attractions for tourists. These practices play a crucial role in promoting the sustainable development of traditional villages [53]. In addition, rural areas, occupations, lifestyles, and cultural assets they have influenced, such as food, architecture, landscapes, and living in harmony with nature, are now seen as crucial resources for the sustainable development of rural communities, comparable to Japan [58,59]. A significant portion of research on sustainable tourism focuses on sustainability indicators and measuring methods, encompassing social, economic, and environmental aspects [[60], [61], [62]].

4.3. Traditional village and authenticity

Traditional villages are sometimes conflated with ancient villages in several domains. Traditional villages, however distinct from ancient villages, are encompassed within them. The former refers to ongoing communities that have not undergone “heritagization.” Traditional villages, albeit distinct from rural settlements, are encompassed within them. These villages possess a distinctive cultural heritage that requires preservation [46]. Traditional villages possess both communal and heritage attributes [63]. Although there is extensive research on the conservation and development of heritage sites [39,[64], [65], [66]] sustainable rural tourism with sustainability assessment [60,61], community participation [49], government interventions [67,68], and spatial planning [69], there is a lack of research that effectively addresses the dual goals of preserving heritage and promoting community development while also supporting the sustainable development of traditional villages.

The Nara Document of Authenticity [16], expanded the concept of “authenticity” by placing emphasis on it. Authenticity necessitates the consideration and evaluation of “respect for all cultures, heritage properties be considered and judged within the cultural contexts to which they belong.” However, the presence of cultural and heritage diversity makes it impracticable to establish fixed standards for determining value and authenticity. Authenticity is an often utilized concept in government guidance materials, assessment indicators, and renovation standards within the realm of traditional villages. Traditionally, “Authenticity” was commonly seen as unchanging with minimal deviation [70]. However, traditional villages have undergone changes and transformations throughout history as a result of political factors, uncontrolled urbanization, climate change, and unrestricted tourist development [71]. These factors have led to the continuous evolution of the region's authenticity in terms of its content, function, and form [72]. Furthermore, in the context of traditional villages, authenticity encompasses not only the preservation of sites and monuments, but also the perpetuation and safeguarding of the local livelihood within the vicinity [73,74].

4.4. Community and sustainable livelihood

Unique community values are the primary appeal of rural tourism [75]. Destination communities fulfill multiple functions within the tourism sector, serving as service providers, merchants, craftsmen, and even contributing to the visitor's overall experience [76,77]. They have an extensive understanding of the local customs, culture, and environment, and serve as both practitioners and conveyors of traditional culture [78,79]. A typical acquaintance society is commonly founded upon kinship, consanguinity, and communal ties, as exemplified by traditional rural Chinese society [80]. Pudianti and Vitasurya [75] assert that traditional community values, such as familial bonds, ties among villagers, and reverence and adherence to ancestors, hold greater significance than economic values, such as the pursuit of higher wealth.

In recent times, the global growth of tourism has generated significant attention towards research examining the impact of tourism on local communities and agritourism establishments [81]. The development of tourism in traditional villages might lead to social polarization due to the uneven distribution of tourism resources [82]. Additionally, Tian and Liu [83] have introduced the notion of ‘isolated island effects' to explain the absence of integration between tourism villages and their neighboring communities, with a specific emphasis on economic, social, and cultural aspects. Several studies have focused on a specific pattern of tourism development known as the ‘ticket economy’ and its impact on traditional villages [83]. The phenomena of “isolated island effects” or ‘ticket economy’ has a significant impact on the structure and rhythm of traditional communities, as well as on people's daily activities. However, there is currently limited research available to explain this phenomenon [84].

Given the significance of the economy in any social context, it is not unexpected that many studies have been conducted to examine the conventional shifts in rural households' livelihoods resulting from rural tourism [43,85,86]. Livelihood refers to the methods individuals employ to sustain their existence, encompassing the fundamental necessities for both productivity and survival [87]. It typically serves as the primary focus of social and economic research. The conventional means of subsistence for farmers involve activities such as hunting, farming, and raising livestock [86,88]. However, the emergence of the rural tourism has disrupted this traditional mode and has brought attention to the need for a transformation in farmers' means of subsistence, their assets, and their strategies for livelihood [9,85].

The introduction of tourism and shifts in resource evaluation and distribution, as well as changes in social relations and structures, have significantly impacted traditional livelihoods and ways of life [85,89]. A commonly held belief is that encouraging tourism can enhance local livelihoods by reallocating resources and offering new employment opportunities. On the other hand, the local perspective contradicts this claim and argues that it does not deliver the promised tangible advantages and additional income-generating opportunities, which leads to the marginalization of the local population in the destination [10,89]. Displacement caused by cultural preservation and tourist growth has been extensively seen to have a detrimental impact on the sustainability of people's livelihoods in both developed and developing countries [89].

Increasing evidence supports the use of rural tourism as a means to broaden sources of income without completely replacing traditional livelihoods, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic [85,90]. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework [91] developed by the Department for International Development (DFID), is a widely used framework for analyzing livelihood models. It is known for its people-centered perspective, which highlights individuals' inherent capacities and knowledge, and emphasizes community-level actions [86].

4.5. Research topic and research method

This paper provides a summary and analysis of 92 articles, categorizing them based on spatial, economic, social and cultural changes, and a holistic perspective of traditional villages (as shown in Fig. 5). Out of these articles, 9 (9.7%) adopt a holistic perspective, 27 (29%) focus on tourism-induced spatial change, 21 (22.6%) discuss tourism-induced economic change, 16 (17.2%) explore cultural change resulting from tourism, and 20 (21.5%) examine social change caused by tourism. The category of economic transformation received the highest level of scrutiny in comparison to other topics. Regarding research methodologies, qualitative methods were utilized the most frequently (53.8%), while the utilization of quantitative methods with pure data was the lowest (11.8%). This distribution pattern was observed across all subcategories as well (refer to Fig. 6).

Fig. 5.

Number of articles in each category.

Fig. 6.

Number of research methods for each category.

4.6. Spatial changes induced by rural tourism

Out of the 26 papers analyzed in Table 6, the research topics can be categorized into different areas related to spatial change. These include changes in land-use patterns (19.2%), local borders (3.8%), transformations in traditional architecture (15.3%), continuity of traditional dwellings (34.6%), changes and continuity in landscapes (7.6%), and spatial arrangement (19.2%). Land-use pattern pertains to the alterations in landform, functionality, land development, and soil consumption inside traditional villages resulting from tourism. Xi, Kong [3] conduct a vertical analysis of the alterations in the spatial structure and purpose of land across time. Several publications examine the structure of land use, digital reconstruction, and social reconstruction in relation to land use patterns [[92], [93], [94]]. Randelli and Martellozzo [95] examine the relationship between land development, soil consumption, and population migration to investigate the process by which hollow villages are formed. The majority of these studies employ participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques, geographic information systems (GIS), and remote sensing (RS) for quantitative analysis. Furthermore, the “isolated island effect” examines the limited interaction between traditional villages and their neighboring communities as a result of controlled tourism management. This effect delves into the dynamics between tourist destination communities and other communities. Traditional architecture transformation refers to the analysis of the modifications in the physical, functional, structural, construction methods, and materials of traditional dwellings caused by tourism. Monzur and Jany [96] also emphasize the temporal context, which is characterized by concurrent technical, societal, and economic changes. The disappearance of traditional architecture is attributed to changes in sociocultural dynamics and conflicts between locals and the government [97]. On the other hand, the sustainability of traditional dwellings relies on the preservation of cultural heritage, adherence to local values such as family bonds, and consideration of livability factors [[98], [99], [100], [101], [102]]. The study of landscape change and continuity examines alterations in physical morphology, functionality, and structure using GIS and remote sensing imagery [103]. Zuo, Li [39] underline the importance of resident spatial practice, which provides the opportunity to achieve a balance between the influence of capital and the preservation of local culture.

Table 6.

Spatial change induced by rural tourism.

Spatial change induced by rural tourism
NO.	Year	Sub- topic	Explanation	Main Research method	Primary Data source
1	2015 [3]	Land-use pattern change	Tourism-induced spatial expansion pattern of rural settlement, including land-use spatial expansion, land-use function change, landscape change and spatial morphology.	(Mixed) face to face interview/GIS (Geographical Information System)	Residents
2	2014 [92]			(Mixed) participatory rural appraisal (PRA)/remote sensing data/semi-structured interviews	Villagers
3	2015 [93]			(Mixed) PRA/GIS/remote sensing images	Villagers
4	2022 [94]			(Quan) GIS/remote sensing images/the expansion strength index/coupled system modeling	Residents
5	2019 [95]			(Quan) cartographic geostatistical methods/evolutionary economic geography/GIS
6	2018 [84]	Local borders	Explore the lower-level borders developed process and the impacts on traditional villages.	(Qual) interviews/observation/narrative analysis	Villagers
7	2019 [108]	Traditional architecture transformation	The physical Transformation of the traditional dwelling due to rural tourism.	(Qual) case study/observation
8	2017 [70]			(Mixed) interviews/questionnaires/architectural examination	Villagers
9	2023 [96]			(Qual) interviews/observational/satellite imaging	Inhabitants
10	2023 [109]			(Quan) Remote sensing images/drone shooting
11	2019 [98]	Traditional dwelling continuity	Utilizing tourism to achieve traditional village population migration, cultural protection, economic revitalization, and strengthened social connections	(Qual) case study
12	2018 [99]			(Qual) case study
13	2020 [97]			(Qual) direct observations/Semi-structured interviews/physical artifacts/thematic analysis	Households
14	2017 [100]			(Qual) observation/in-depth interview/focus group discussion	Villagers
15	2017 [101]			(Mixed) observation/depth interviews/mapping analysis	The owners or occupants
16	2015 [102]			(Qual) interview	Inhabitants
17	2012 [110]			(Qual) case study
18	2011 [111]			(Qual) case study
19	2012 [112]			(Qual) case study
20	2020 [103]	Landscape change and continuity	Examine tourism-induced changes in landscape morphology, resident and tourist spatial practice, spatial evolution	(Mixed) observations/GIS/remote sensing images/semi-structured interviews/questionnaires	Leader/MGL managers/employees/villagers
21	2022 [39]			(Qual) Pierre Bourdieu's theory/non-participatory observations/semi-structured interview/	Homestay owners/residents/leaders
22	2018 [107]	Spatial arrangement	Exploring the Game between Traditional Village Space Arrangement and Tourist Behavior Patterns and the Needs of Villagers	(Mixed) ‘New Urbanism’ theory/semi-structured interview/observations/Arc GIS software	Villagers
23	2023 [104]			(Mixed) GPS data/questionnaires	Residents/Tourists
24	2023 [69]			(Qual) Aerial images/structured interview	Famers
25	2022 [106]			(Mixed) The three-fold model/Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)/questionnaire/in- depth interview	Experts
26	2023 [105]			(Mixed) GPS data/questionnaires	Inhabitants

The spatial arrangement examines how the physical environment of traditional villages influences tourists' behavior and preferences [104]. It also explores how tourism destinations evolve over time [105,106], and how the construction of agritourism affects traditional villages [69]. The focus is on consciously shaping the spatial organization of tourist destinations to meet the needs of both villagers and tourists and to promote social interactions [107].

4.7. Economic change induced by rural tourism

The 18 papers on the economic impact of tourism are categorized into different themes: management pattern shift (4.8%), livelihood transformation (52.4%), continuity (19%), and traditional industry (23.8%) (refer to Table 7). Of all the analyses conducted, the examination of Livelihoods using DFID's Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) [91] represented 53.3%. SLF examines the evaluation of assets in traditional production methods [113], investigates the connection between cultural heritage preservation and production methods [114], and explores the effects of displacement and relocation of traditional villages on traditional livelihood [115]. The findings indicate that insufficient incorporation of traditional agriculture with tourism, or excessive reliance on a solitary tourism sector, will diminish the resilience of traditional villages [116]. In his study, Ma et al. [117] emphasizes the significance of cultural factors in determining the sustainable livelihoods of households, as observed in the SLF. Wang et al. [118] propose a revised sustainable livelihoods framework, emphasizing the importance of offering alternate means of livelihood for traditional villages to achieve long-term sustainability. A limited number of studies challenge alternative viewpoints, exemplified as Mbaiwa [85] utilization of contemporary theories to advocate for the preservation of traditional village lifestyles with sensitivity. Qin and Leung [43] employ a multi-dimensional framework of sustainable development to investigate heritage protection and the change of livelihoods. Huang et al. [86] analysis, based on SLF, suggests that the management model evolved from an individual-focused approach to one that relied on local government intervention. This movement was driven by insufficient local social and financial capital and aimed to meet the changing needs of tourists and locals.

Table 7.

Economic change induced by rural tourism.

Economic change induced by rural tourism
NO.	Year	Sub- topic	Explanation	Research method	Primary Data source
27	2016 [123]	Management pattern shift	Identify changing patterns of demand, moving from an individual-based model to one that relies on local government intervention.	(Mixed) participant observation/semi-structured interviews/key informant interviews/questionnaire	Villagers/leaders/tour guides//sellers/tourists
28	2017 [86]	Livelihood transformation	Focusing on the impact of rural tourism development on the different livelihood patterns of villagers in different traditional villages, mostly based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework.	(Mixed) PRA/questionnaires/in-depth interviews/observation/symposium	Farmers
29	2011 [85]			(Mixed) face-to-face interviews/FGD/thematic and quantitative analysis	Household
30	2021 [43]			(Qual) Ethnographic in-depth interviews/participant observations	Leaders/cadres/villagers/visitors
31	2021 [117]			(Mixed) questionnaire/interviews/participant observations/The Entropy Method analysis	Households/residents
32	2016 [113]			(Mixed) Arc GIS 10.2/Semi-structured interviews/questionnaires	Leader/traditional elites/tourist guides/students/farmers/tourism practitioners
33	2016 [10]			(Qual) Face-to-face semi-structured interviews/FGD/participant observations	Management officials/community leaders/residents
34	2018 [34]			(Qual) participant observations/interview/The Ethnographic Approach	Former fishermen
35	2018 [118]			(Qual) Face to face semi-structured interviews/observations	Key village informants/residents/leader
36	2018 [114]			(Qual) Face-to-face semi-structured interviews/Observations	Government officials/households
37	2023 [116]			(Qual) in-depth interviews/questionnaires	Tourism sector representatives/tourists
38	2023 [124]			(Qual) in-depth interviews/questionnaires	Inhabitants
39	2009 [73]	Livelihood continuity	Emphasize the sustainability of traditional livelihoods and the diversity of livelihoods following tourism engagement	(Qual) Interviews	Households
40	2016 [77]			(Qual) Face-to-face in-depth interviews	Management officials/village leaders/residents
41	2022 [90]			(Qual) an ethnographic approach/participant observation/in-depth interviews/thematic analysis	Homestay owners/former migrant workers
42	2023 [125]			(Mixed) interviews/questionnaires/	Households/tourists
43	2022 [119]	Traditional industries	Focus on the role of traditional industries in the sustainable development of traditional villages and tourism development	(Qual) in-depth interviews/participatory observation/Thematic analysis	Expert/tourism Owner/Farmer/returning youth.
44	2019 [32]			(Mixed) interviews/questionnaires/a logistic model	Households
45	2019 [120]			(Qual) interviews/participant observations//Thematic analysis	Village cadres/food operators/villagers/tourists
46	2013 [122]			(Mixed) in-depth interviews/questionnaires/informal discussions/t-test and a linear regression model	Residents
47	2023 [121]			(Qual) Semi-structured interviews/in-depth interviews	Villagers

Furthermore, the academic community has also shown interest in the advancement of traditional industries. The integration of traditional farming practices with the tourism industry is widely recognized as a significant catalyst for the rejuvenation of rural areas [119]. Ciolac et al. [32] emphasize the need of ensuring the sustainability of agritourism by making future projections of key variables such as occupation and crafts. Guan et al. [120] focused on the food “heritagization” process in rural tourism settings and its impact on traditional communities. Mochankana et al. [121] conducted a study on the impact of tourist growth on traditional basket weaving in the Okavango Delta. They emphasized the significance of maintaining a balance between commercial demands and cultural relevance [122].

4.8. Culture change induced by rural tourism

The 16 papers discussing the impact of tourism on cultural change are categorized into four themes: commoditization of culture (12.5%), culture heritage continuity (37.5%), authenticity continuity and transformation (37.5%), and community value (12.5%). Most of the studies employed qualitative research methods, which constituted 87.5% of the total (refer to Table 8). Xu and Wang [126] define the traditional value of cultural landscape as the “long-term interaction between humans and nature.” They further categorize this value into three themes: “settlement landscape,” “agricultural landscape,” and “cultural landscape.” Based on the research conducted by Pudianti and Vitasurya [75], the community value plays a significant role in preserving the historical environment of the area. Additionally, it has a good impact on decision-making processes and can help in resolving conflicts within the community. Certain researchers prioritize the examination of the relationship and potential exploration of spatial cultural traits and the preservation of cultural heritage as well as the advancement of tourism [[127], [128], [129]]. Traditional villages provide unique cultural traits that can enhance tourism resilience in the post-pandemic era by offering opportunities for cultural discovery and creative cultural outputs. “Vulnerable individuals” have the potential to transform into “resilient industrial structures” through the collaborative efforts of villages, government structure, attraction production, social capital, and cultural inventiveness [130]. It is crucial to exercise caution with the phenomenon known as ‘The Tourist Gaze’ when interacting with local residents. The expansion of rural tourism can lead to a lack of cultural identity, as local residents adopt the mindset and behavior of the visiting community. In certain cases, they may even view tourists as superior and feel compelled to conform to the role of natives [72]. Hence, experts have been focusing on the authenticity and identity of traditional villages impacted by rural tourism.

Table 8.

Culture change induced by rural tourism.

Culture change induced by rural tourism
NO.	Year	Sub- topic	Explanation	Research method	Primary Data source
48	2016 [134]	Commoditization of Culture	The process of tourism-induced commodification of culture and its impact on traditional villages	(Mixed) ethnographic fieldwork/participant observation/interviews	Villagers
49	2016 [131]			(Mixed) semi-structured interviews/questionnaire/chi-square test	Residents
50	2008 [127]	Culture heritage continuity	Aimed to identify the cultural creativity potentials and the change of traditional village induced by tourism	(Qual) case study
51	2016 [128]			(Qual) interview/observation	Village leader/natives
52	2021 [72]			(Qual) in- deep interviews/observation/the ethnography/grounded theory	Villagers
53	2022 [130]			(Qual) in- depth interviews/Participatory and non-participatory observations	Tour guides and managers/tourists/mayors/homestay operators/villagers
54	2023 [129]			(Qual) interviews/observation	Villagers
55	2023 [135]			(Qual) Historical data analysis/field investigation
56	2022 [133]	Authenticity continuity and transformation	Analyzing the dialectical relationship between authenticity and tourism and traditional villages, focusing not only on physical authenticity, but also on maintaining a sense of locality, village spirit, and way of life	(Qual) in-depth interviews/participant observations	Villagers
57	2009 [132]			(Qual) interview/photo elicitation	The chiefs and residents
58	2012 [115]			(Qual) interviews/participant observation	Village leader/villagers
59	2017 [136]			(Qual) case study
60	2022 [137]			(Qual) interviews	Villagers
61	2023 [138]			(Quan) field survey/SEM analysis	Tourists
62	2019 [75]	Community value	Identify community values, including “settlement landscape”, “agricultural landscape,” and “spiritual landscape,” and analyze their impact on the development of tourism in traditional villages	(Qual) in-depth interviews/observation	Residents
63	2021 [139]			(Qual) in-depth interview	Residents

The authenticity of traditional villages is demonstrated by both the methods and techniques used in building restoration, as well as the preservation of traditional cultural meanings and social bonds [131]. The authenticity of a location is frequently derived from its cultural and historical importance as regarded by the local people. Disregarding the values and meaning held by people can harm the integrity and distinctiveness of the destination [132]. Monzur and Jany [96] found that object-based authenticity and intrapersonal authenticity are important factors in creating emotional connection to a destination and increasing loyalty to that destination. This is because when a person's values and self-identity align with the perceived authenticity of the destination, they are more likely to develop a strong attachment to it. The cultural practices of the residents in Nyuh-Kuning serve as a valuable model for rebuilding the identity of the rural community, so confirming the connection between tourists' attainment of existential authenticity and the elaboration of traditions [133].

Following the commercialization of cultural heritage, scholars express concern that the emergence of a new local identity driven by tourism may potentially erode other forms of preexisting village identity, as the new pattern replaces traditional ties of lineage or blood to establish a fresh identity [115]. Simultaneously, the tour operator impeded the villagers' ability to demonstrate their historical agency and cultural identity on their own terms to external parties by appropriating cultural resources to develop a new cultural product [134].

4.9. Social change induced by rural tourism

The 18 publications on this topic are categorized into five sub-themes (refer to Table 9): rural gentrification (5%), societal impacts (30%), community participation (20%), management framework (30%), and residents' perspectives and attitudes (15%). The predominant research methods remained qualitative, comprising 45% of the papers, while quantitative methods accounted for 20%, and mixed-method approaches were included in 35% of the publications. The primary advantage of tourism is its significant contribution to economic growth. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the intricate connections and interdependencies among the economy, ecology, and society before fully capitalizing on the immense economic benefits of tourism development [140]. The resilience of village growth is influenced by the social and ecological carrying capacity [141]. Zhuang et al. [66] examines the impact of tourism development on the traditional values, lifestyles, and interpersonal interactions of local residents in traditional villages [82]. Zhang [142] asserts that tourist development influences the welfare of the population. Zhang investigates the correlation between tourism development and economic circumstances, rural migration, and the conservation of cultural heritage using a student's t-test. Tom endeavored to convert traditional agricultural resources into tourism resources in order to reverse the depopulation of traditional villages [143]. Tourism-driven rural gentrification led to the refurbishment of existing structures, a rise in property prices, and the displacement of inhabitants [144].

Table 9.

Social change induced by rural tourism.

Social change induced by rural tourism
NO.	Year	Sub- topic	Explanation	Research method	Primary Data source
64	2021 [144]	Rural gentrification	Using the concepts of rural and tourism gentrification to understand this transformation in social class structure and the restructure of traditional houses.	(Mixed) interviews/questionnaire	Village Chief/real estates/households
65	2021 [141]	Impacts on society	Study the impact of rural tourism on the social level of traditional villages, including carrying capacity, lifestyle, villagers' welfare, population conversion, and traditional industries	(Mixed) diachronic energy approach/field investigation/semi-structured interviews/participant observations	Cadres/villagers/migrant workers/elderly people
66	2019 [66]			(Mixed) semi-structured interviews/participant observation/questionnaire	Natives
67	2021 [142]			(Quan) questionnaire/the pretest-posttest study design/Student's t-test	Residents
68	2018 [140]			(Qual) Talanoa method/participant observations/semi-structured interviews	Residents
69	2022 [143]			(Qual) multi-site analysis	Inhabitants
70	2015 [82]			(Mixed) Questionnaire	Farmers
71	2021 [49]	Community Participation	Exploring the relationship and impact of community participation, perception of conflicts, residents' support, empowering local stakeholders, community leadership, and traditional village tourism development	(Quan) Questionnaire/The Structural Equation Model (SEM)	Residents
72	2018 [149]			(Quan) questionnaire/Descriptive statistical methods/multivariate regression	Local suppliers of tourism services
73	2017 [148]			(Qual) the longitudinal comparative method/participatory observation/semi-structured interviews/textual analysis	Business owners/local officials/residents/tourists
74	2020 [152]			(Qual) In-depth interviews/observation/FGD	Government officials/homestay owners/residents
75	2016 [145]	Management model	Emphasizes the role of government and non-government ‘collaborative governance’ and benefits allocation and balancing the needs of different participants	(Mixed) interviews/informal discussions/questionnaires/	Residents/family-based tourism businesses
76	2017 [147]			(Qual) semi-structured interviews/participant observation	Villagers/tourism employees
77	2022 [146]			(Mixed) in- depth interviews/questionnaire/mean analysis/a paired-sample t-test	Households/village committees/tourism enterprises
78	2022 [153]			(Qual) Systematic review
79	2023 [67]			(Qual) non-participatory observation/in-depth interviews	government staff/tourists/operators/intangible cultural villagers
80	2013 [12]			(Qual) case study
81	2004 [151]	Residents' perception and attitudes	To explore the relationship between tourist development and local attitudes, as well as the attitudes of villagers about the effects of tourism.	(Mixed) face-to-face interviews/questionnaires	Households/tourism enterprise
82	2021 [150]			(Qual) semi-structured in-depth interviews/The Grounded Theory approach	Stakeholders
83	2018 [154]			(Quan) questionnaire/CATegorical Principal Component Analysis, cluster analysis/hypothesis testing	Inhabitants

Tourism management in traditional villages entails a dynamic interaction among communities, capital, government, and social groups [105]. Keyim [145], advocated a “collaborative governance” model, emphasizing the importance of government and non-governmental cooperation in fostering grassroots development for local communities. The primary areas of the Core Interest Subjects Symbiosis Model, which is grounded in symbiosis theory, seeks to achieve the principles of ‘common construction, common governance, and sharing’ [146]. Community governance logic encompasses the procedures of governing leadership, incorporating market dynamics, engaging residents with awareness, and integrating tourists actively, considering both diachronic and synchronic perspectives [67]. The traditional village functions as a social setting that relies on family “guanxi” connections. It is important to note that this is not a Confucian political ideal or a mere tool, but rather a destination for tourists. The rules and management of these villages have been modified and adapted to incorporate the principles of “guanxi” [147].

Community-Based Tourism (CBT) entails the active engagement of a local community in promoting and facilitating tourism endeavors within their vicinity. This collaboration enhances the ongoing progress of tourism growth while effectively dealing with the intricacies and disputes that may occur [49]. The cultivation of robust community leadership within villages is crucial for effectively tackling obstacles in tourism development, specifically conflicts and tensions that emerge from divergent visions and conflicting interests among stakeholders [148]. Research has shown that when residents actively engage in tourist development, it leads to a favorable effect on their support for tourism. The connection between inhabitants and conflicts within the tourism community is influenced by residents’ perceptions [49]. Promoting the active participation and engagement of the community helps bolster their backing for tourism efforts.

Moreover, the promotion of local stakeholders' empowerment in rural areas has had a positive impact on sustainability [149]. The effectiveness of community participation is demonstrated when certain characteristics such as education and awareness, trust and confidence, access to capital and credit, institutionalization, and collaboration are present. Researchers have utilized stakeholder theory to identify variations in the attitudes and beliefs of local residents towards sustainable development across various aspects of society, culture, economy, and environment [150]. Expanding on this comprehension, additional investigation examines the link between residents’ perspectives and the advancement of tourism, elucidating the intricate connection between the two [151].

4.10. The holistic perspective of traditional villages and rural tourism

The holistic approach to traditional villages and rural tourism focuses on a broad view rather than a narrow, one-sided issue. This includes assessing rural tourism potential, promoting sustainable development in traditional villages, and revitalizing these villages (refer to Table 10). SWOT is employed as a study methodology in a significant number (44.4%) of papers to examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and repercussions of tourism on traditional villages. Researchers have utilized a range of indicators and factors to evaluate the potential, such as economic factors, population distribution, environmental conditions, cultural aspects, infrastructure, and psychological factors [49,155,156]. Scholars have analyzed several aspects such as economic growth, ethnic culture, management practices, infrastructure and service facilities [164] to assess the impact of tourism on sustainable villages [157].

Table 10.

The holistic perspective of traditional villages and rural tourism.

The holistic perspective of traditional villages and rural tourism
NO.	Year	Sub- topic	Explanation	Research method	Primary Data source
84	2015 [155]	Evaluating the Rural Tourism Potentials	Analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of developing rural tourism from economic, social, cultural, and environmental aspects	(Mixed) The Delphi method/SWOT analysis/the statistical data analysis	Experts
85	2018 [156]			(Mixed) The method of comparison/the experimental method/SWOT analysis	The tourism sites owner/the rural tourism product users
86	2019 [56]			(Quan) Questionnaire/SWOT analysis	Inhabitants
87	2013 [160]			(Mixed) Questionnaire/interview/Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL)	The experts
88	2022 [64]	Sustainable development of the traditional village	Assess the changes caused by tourism to assist the sustainable development of traditional villages from economic, environmental, cultural, social, and other aspects	(Quan) questionnaire	government officials/service providers/residents
89	2022 [158]			(Mixed) Adaptive Cycle Theory/the entropy weight method	Traditional villages
90	2022 [157]			(Quan) Delphi expert scoring/AHP analysis/the statistical data analysis	Experts
91	2017 [1]	Revitalizing traditional villages	Proposes a holistic and long-term approach of Traditional Village Revitalization based on Rural Tourism, considering social, cultural, and economic aspects to achieve sustainable development.	(Qual) face-to-face in-depth interviews/participatory observation	Leaders/residents/immigrant residents/operators/employees/tourists
92	2021 [159]			(Qual) observation/interviews/SWOT	Residents

An adaptation index system was created to assess the adaptability of villages undergoing tourism development, using the Adaptive Cycle Theory [158]. The results indicate that villages predominantly involved in agriculture exhibit inferior adaptation in comparison to traditional villages that prioritize national culture and ecological leisure agriculture. An effective way to attaining sustainable development in traditional villages is the merging of technology, culture and tourism, economic, environmental, and social factors in the construction of smart villages [64]. The strategic integration of rural tourism with traditional villages, taking into account their cultural, social, and economic dimensions, is widely regarded as a promising approach to rejuvenate rural areas. This integration leverages the cultural and social bonds inherent in traditional villages to drive economic growth [1,159].

4.11. Challenges

Tourism and interventions by tourists in traditional villages necessarily lead to alterations in their physical appearance and internal social connections, which in turn impact the genetic diversity of these villages to different extents. Furthermore, apart from previous analyses, the challenges related to the sustainable development of traditional villages due to tourism are categorized based on spatial, economic, social, and cultural themes (refer to Table 11).

Table 11.

The challenges posed by tourism.

The challenges posed by tourism
Challenges	Explanation	Citation
Spatial
‘Hollowing’ village	The intense conflict for land between villages' limited development space and rising tourism land usage.	[3,69,77,92,94,106,118,137,153]
Deterioration of the traditional architecture	To attract visitors, a more modern way of life was brought into the traditional hamlet, which changed the architectural structure and decoration.	[97,101,109]
Excessive restoration Interventions	Excessive intervention in the renovations and restorations of villagers' dwellings and lack of freedom in their dwellings.	[12,98]
Spatial alienation	Tourism capital intervention to facilitate rural spatial commercialization, and the tendency to deviate significantly from traditional space.	[104,105]
Economic
Weak community engagement	Low discourse power and low returns of communities and villagers as stakeholders in management and development.	[1,122,148,149,160]
Uneven interests	Competition for tourism resources and conflicts among villagers caused by inequitable distribution of tourism resources.	[77,100,134,145,146]
Restricted livelihood diversification	Traditional production methods are abandoned, and highly dependent on tourism development.	[10,32,34,73,77,90,113,114,116,119,120,124,125,130,152,156]
Culture
Loss of authenticity	Development of tourism might harm the traditional village's internal culture and exterior appearance, Cultural distortion due to catering to tourists' interests.	[32,72,108,110,112,118,127,129,131,132,138,139,157,158]
Loss of rurality	The “core-periphery” pattern of the spatial planning and centered around tourist's interests in rural tourism caused the loss of rurality	[92,93,103,119]
Loss of identity	The newly constructed local identity initiated by tourism can undermine the preexisting identity of the village. Locals start to think and act like the ‘guest’ community and even consider tourists superior or only play the role of a native.	[43,70,72,95,100,115]
Social
‘Isolated Island’ effect	The lack of linkage between the scenic village and their surrounding communities due to gated tourism management; Spatial isolation of tourist and residential zones.	[84,107,128]
Indigenous marginalization	The development of tourism is taken over by the government or tourism companies, villagers were marginalized; Rural gentrification.	[10,123,144,151]
Disrupting social order	Traditional villages have changed from a space that fulfills the simple living needs of villagers to a space that fulfills the requirements of various populations.	[12,67,103,104]
Breaking the original social relation	The growing number of tourists has shattered rural life, which was once tied by social networks based on blood, family, traditional beliefs, or township regulations; Fostered competitive social relations among villagers.	[49,66,69,86,118,147,148,150]

The most prominent issue in the spatial aspect is the phenomenon known as ‘hollowing’ of villages due to tourism (56.2%). This term describes the expansion of tourism infrastructure and the consequent displacement and voluntary departure of the local inhabitants from the core of the traditional village. Subsequently, there is a decline in the traditional architecture (18.8%) and an increase in excessive restoration interventions (12.5%), as well as spatial alienation (12.5%).

The limited diversification of livelihoods (61.5%) in the economic domain is a prominent area of research, and numerous studies have demonstrated that maintaining traditional livelihoods, rather than relying excessively on a single livelihood, can enhance the resilience of the tourism industry and the adaptability of traditional villages, particularly in the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, scholars are also interested in Weak Community Engagement (19.2%) as a subject. It is crucial to empower communities in establishing bottom-up management and operation systems in order to effectively address the growth of tourism in traditional villages. The competition and unequal distribution of interest (19.2%) caused by tourism also weaken the traditional social connections and ways of communal living, which in turn goes against the goal of visitors visiting traditional villages, creating a harmful cycle.

At the cultural level, there has been a continuous exploration of the authenticity (60%) of both external forms and internal social culture. The aim is to prevent homogenization and preserve the authenticity of diverse cultures. This requires not only maintaining authentic forms, but also ensuring the genuine continuation of the participants' livelihood and lifestyle. The issue of authenticity is coupled with a decrease in rurality (16%) and identity (24%).

The most significant social issue of tourist-induced challenges is the disruption of the original social relation, accounting for 42.1% of the concerns. This relates to the modern development model and operating mechanism of tourism, which undermines the traditional village's bonds founded on blood and traditional beliefs. The health of traditional communities is also impacted by factors such as indigenous marginalization (21%), the disruption of social order and public space (21%), and the ‘isolated island’ effect (15.8%) beyond the community.

5. Discussion

Findings arising from the systematic review of the changes in conventional villages caused by tourism. Regarding the research methods employed, more than half of the 92 papers (53.8%) utilized exclusively qualitative research methods. Qualitative methodologies allow researchers to obtain comprehensive understanding of the experiences, attitudes, and opinions of persons participating in the development of traditional village tourism. This approach facilitates a more profound comprehension of the many and diverse elements of tourism in conventional villages. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize the constraints linked to depending on the perceptions of respondents. Due to the potential for variations in views among individuals, it is possible for subjectivity to impact the survey results. The responses provided by the participant can be influenced by factors such as personal biases, cultural influences, and individual interpretations [142].

The escalation of conflicts resulting from the increase of tourism land usage and the scarcity of village construction land has prompted residents to relocate [3,92,106]. The displacement and transfer of entire towns have often led to substantial changes in both the architectural heritage and the cultural identity of local communities [62,94,106]. This excessive meddling from a top-down perspective necessitates contemplation [1], as tourism ought to be perceived as a means rather than an ultimate goal. The continuous existence of traditional villages can only be ensured by the active engagement of locals, in order to prevent them from becoming simply museums.

The introduction of innovative cultural tourism items can enhance the resilience of tourism development [130]. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that profit-driven rural tourism frequently results in the commercialization of the cultural heritage [131]. Third-party tourism planning companies sometimes exert control over the commercialization of culture and benefit from the cultural heritage, thereby disempowering indigenous communities and impeding their ability to independently define and safeguard their cultural identity. This undermines their capacity to retain authority over their historical agency and cultural identity [134]. Moreover, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, the over reliance on a solitary source of income renders communities exceedingly susceptible to unforeseen circumstances [90,116,125]. Preserving traditional livelihoods while developing tourism is a strategy to enhance the resilience of traditional villages [158], while also safeguarding the fundamental authenticity of these villages [133,137,138].

The study of authenticity in the realm of cultural heritage has developed significantly over the past fifty years, following the introduction of The Venice Charter [15]. However, when it comes to traditional villages, which hold a unique cultural property status, authenticity encompasses not just cultural aspects but also community traits [46]. Hence, the authenticity of traditional villages is intrinsically linked to the uninterrupted focus on community. Prior research has demonstrated that both object-based authenticity and intrapersonal authenticity not only foster emotional connection with a destination but also promote loyalty towards that destination [137]. Therefore, preserving traditional livelihoods and lifestyles not only ensures the cultural authenticity of traditional villages and enhances the distinct rural character of villages in a standardized village construction, but also strengthens the ability of sustainable tourism to withstand challenges [132,158].

The difficulties of social interconnections that arise following the development of rural tourism include rural gentrification, which leads to the disruption of social connections within traditional villages, and the isolation from nearby communities created by the “island” effect [84,144]. Simultaneously, scholars have taken notice of the relatively limited involvement of community participation and the existence of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in numerous instances. An innovative form of governance known as “collaborative governance” has been developed [145], which involves cooperation between the government, community, and NGOs. This approach aims to empower local stakeholders, including ordinary villagers and local elites, who are often overlooked in the tourism development process [49,148,152].

Occasionally, there is a lack of information sharing between village leaders and ordinary residents, which allows local elites to use renovation projects for their own financial gain, while claiming that they are aimed at revitalizing rural areas and preserving cultural heritage [148]. The Core Interest Subjects Symbiosis Model facilitates active involvement, constructive discussions, trust, and equitable distribution of advantages among communities, local residents, and external investors [105]. Both the top-down and bottom-up approaches are crucial for the development of traditional villages in the tourism industry [145,161]. Collaboration between institutional, authoritative powers, grassroots movements, and civic spheres is necessary to achieve long-term and resilient development in traditional villages.

6. Conclusions

(i) The study performed a systematic and detailed content analysis of 92 publications obtained from 45 journals published between 2000 and June 2023. The literature review findings unveiled the influence and difficulties that rural tourism has on traditional villages in relation to spatial, economic, cultural, and societal aspects. Both the expansion of tourism land use and the mass removal of settlements have played a role in the decline of traditional villages. Several instances demonstrate that profit-driven tourism development has intensified the transformation of traditional villages into mere museums, rather than promoting sustainable development. Furthermore, the heavy dependence on a solitary tourism-based source of income renders traditional communities exceedingly susceptible to unforeseen circumstances, such as the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Preserving traditional livelihoods and diversifying livelihoods enhances the ability of traditional villages to maintain their rural character and sense of place, while also strengthening the authenticity of rural tourism. By preserving the inherent genuineness of traditional villages, it is possible to enhance the sense of connection and loyalty among tourists.

Furthermore, this study unveiled the intricate and demanding interaction between social stakeholders in the realm of rural tourism development. Although there are instances where many stakeholders might mutually benefit, the bulk of decision-making procedures regarding the development of rural tourism tend to marginalize local interests, frequently disregarding the perspectives of local communities. The significance and efficiency of ‘collaborative governance’ between governments and non-governmental organizations in controlling the speed and scope of tourism growth is highlighted, especially when taking into account the distinctive cultural and community characteristics found in traditional villages. In contrast to the predominant approach of rural tourism that prioritizes the interests of tourists over those of villagers, the establishment of rural tourism in traditional villages should revolve around the needs and well-being of the villagers or communities. This entails considering various stakeholders and preserving the unique characteristics of traditional villages, thereby creating a mutually beneficial relationship with rural tourism.

The research addresses the limitations of previous literature that primarily examines the sustainable development of traditional villages in the context of rural tourism. Furthermore, it urges scholars, tourism stakeholders, policymakers, and village managers to prioritize the deterioration of traditional villages, as well as the spatial, economic, social, and cultural problems linked to excessive or unsuitable tourism development.

• (ii)This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. The data included in this review came only from the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases, without considering possible insights from other journals and books. As a result, the evaluation may have overlooked pertinent research that were in line with its goals because of misclassification in the database, which in turn affected the ultimate conclusion. Furthermore, the omission of regionally significant publications written in languages other than English from the sample of relevant journals may disregard their scientific contributions, which should be taken into account in future studies. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that while this study produced valuable data, it is difficult to apply these findings to other places due to the unique characteristics of each village, especially when considering the cultural and political dynamics specific to each region.
• (iii)In the future, there may be an increase in case studies that specifically examine the sustainable development of traditional villages within the context of tourism. These studies would explore sustainable development frameworks and evaluation indicators in order to promote responsible and diverse rural tourism development. The goal would be to enhance the unique characteristics of traditional villages, empower the local community, strengthen social resilience, and improve the overall well-being of traditional societies.

Author contributions

Asrul Aminuddin: Validation, Supervision, Methodology, Conceptualization. Muhammad Azzam Ismail: Writing – review & editing, Validation, Supervision, Methodology, Conceptualization. Yanan Li: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Conceptualization

Funding statement

This systematic review received no specific funding or financial support.

Data availability statement

Data included in article/supplementary material/referenced in article.

Ethics declarations

Review and/or approval by an ethics committee was not needed for this study because all the data come from published journal articles.

Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process

During the preparation of this work the authors used Quillbot in order to proofread the language used in this paper. After using this tool/service, the authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the publication.

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.