The Imperative of Earth-Eco-Socialism for Sustainable Tourism in a Technological Era

Purpose: This paper argues for the adoption of the principle of earth-eco-socialism as an ethical framework for re-evaluating how sustainable tourism should be conceived in an age defined by the intersection of ecological vulnerability and technological advancement. It attends to tourism practices that are not sustainable, most especially those influenced by technological optimism and market-driven approaches, and in turn proffers an ethically informed framework for real sustainability.

Methods: This paper is philosophical research and, accordingly, adopts the method of critical and conceptual analysis, with particular attention to the influence of artificial intelligence tools on tourism’s operational landscape.

Findings: The findings of this paper show that while modern technology has significantly influenced tourism, its deployment has in many cases been as a result of profitability. By so doing, the environment is endangered, as such a yardstick encourages commodifying patterns that commercialize nature and marginalize local communities. Thus, the moral foundations upon which sustainability claims are made are weakened. It further reveals that most existing sustainability approaches are mere claims tied to technological optimism and market-based environmentalism.

Implications: This study shows that a more ethically rigorous interpretation of sustainable tourism should move toward ecological reciprocity, communal participation, and intergenerational responsibility. It contends that both scholars and practitioners should reconsider the ethical foundations of sustainability, while policymakers can apply this knowledge in designing tourism policies that prioritize ecological justice and community inclusion.

Originality: The thrust of this paper is that it presents earth-eco-socialism as a distinct ethical framework capable of re-situating the purpose and practice of tourism. It contributes to existing discourse by moving beyond conventional sustainability models to responsible tourism through presenting a philosophical alternative that integrates ecological justice, collective responsibility, and planetary balance by means of reorientation.