Beyond the Rhetoric and the Veil of Mist of Social Innovation in Tourism

CALL FOR PAPERS

Journal: Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

Publisher: Emerald Publishing

Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026

Introduction

In recent years, Social Innovation in Tourism (SIT) has emerged as a key topic in tourism innovation studies — even though its systematization remains pending. This is an emerging research field still in formation, where different theoretical and disciplinary perspectives are compared and predominantly exploratory research is presented. Sociological contributions to this topic appear quite limited compared to those from management, business, and economics.

SIT acts in continuity with the activation strategies of social innovation and social investment — as a strategy to promote entrepreneurial activation and participation in the labour market of disadvantaged individuals or target groups, as well as a strategy to promote local economic development. Furthermore, the employment and economic potential attributed to tourism tends to obscure the problems caused by tourism — reducing the ability to create conditions that prevent future problems in territories undertaking paths of intensifying tourism flows with social objectives.

SIT also fosters stronger connections to enterprising communities — playing a crucial role in shaping entrepreneurial ecosystems. By facilitating collaboration between local actors — including social enterprises, cooperatives, and small businesses — SIT supports the creation of sustainable economic opportunities. Social enterprises often act as intermediaries, balancing economic viability with social impact while fostering innovation through participatory governance and inclusive business models.

Finally, a profound use of local community rhetoric emerges. The community is indicated both as a beneficiary of local development and as a protagonist in the design and implementation of SIT initiatives — however, it is rarely investigated in depth, reducing the reflective potential of empirical research. As a result, there is an urgent need to study the SIT phenomenon through a sociological lens to unveil multiple dynamics yet unexplored.

Scope & Significance

This Special Issue urges authors to contribute theoretical, empirical, and literature review contributions that reflexively explore Social Innovation in Tourism — with particular attention to sociological, community-centred, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Contributions from management, sociology, economics, and related disciplines are all welcome.

List of Topic Areas

Manuscripts are invited on themes including, but not limited to:

At the origins of social innovation — poverty and problems of access to resources: tourism as a solution or tourism as a cause?
The protagonists of social innovation — what exactly is "local community" and how does it participate in SIT processes?
The ways of producing social innovation — collaboration and conflicts: alternatives or integral parts of SIT processes?
SIT in contexts of undertourism and overtourism — convergences and divergences
Cultural heritage and social innovation in tourism — the role of arts and crafts in SIT: actors, initiatives, and outcomes
Social entrepreneurship and tourism — the contribution of social enterprises in overtourism and undertourism contexts
Rural tourism and social innovation — places, practices, and outcomes
Sustainability and social innovation in tourism — are tourism and sustainability compatible?
Participatory governance and inclusive business models in tourism-related social enterprises
Enterprising communities and entrepreneurial ecosystems in social innovation in tourism

⚠️ Other topics not expressly mentioned will also be accepted if capable of shedding new light on SIT studies.

Guest Editors

Dr. Maurizio Busacca 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Dr. Mario Coscarello 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Dr. Anabel Soria 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Dr. Olga Tzatzadaki 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Key Deadlines

⏰ Manuscript Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are made through ScholarOne Manuscripts, the official submission platform of Emerald Publishing. Authors must strictly follow the journal's author guidelines.

When submitting, select "Beyond the Rhetoric and the Veil of Mist of Social Innovation in Tourism" from the special issue drop-down menu at the appropriate step in the submission process.

⚠️ Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review for this journal.

For author guidelines and to submit your manuscript, visit the official Journal of Enterprising Communities page on the Emerald Publishing website and access via ScholarOne Manuscripts.

About the Journal

The Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy (JEC), published by Emerald Publishing, is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing research on entrepreneurship, social innovation, and community development in local, regional, and global contexts. It provides a platform for scholars and practitioners exploring how enterprising communities — including social enterprises, cooperatives, and grassroots organizations — create sustainable economic and social value across diverse places and economies.

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