Justice in Sustainable Tourism: A Multi-Theoretical Framework for Equitable Ecolodges

This study develops a framework for equitable ecolodges to integrate justice principles into sustainable tourism operations. Through a systematic synthesis of 92 peer-reviewed articles, 45 stakeholder engagement practices were identified, grouped into 15 adaptive mechanisms, and structured under 5 justice principles: Economic, Environmental, Spatial, Cultural, and Tourism Experience Equity. The three-layered framework demonstrates how justice-oriented strategies can be operationalized at organizational, community, and systemic levels. Integrating Distributive Justice Theory, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Stakeholder Theory, the framework clarifies that stakeholder engagement (what) provides foundational inputs, adaptive mechanisms (how) enable implementation, and justice principles (why) guide strategic goals. The theoretical contribution lies in offering a multidimensional and integrative framework that supports researchers and practitioners in designing ecolodges that are economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially fair and inclusive.