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 ethicalframework 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 tourismpractices that are not sustainable, most especially those influenced by technological optimismand market-driven approaches, and in turn proffers an ethically informed framework for realsustainability. Methods: This paper is philosophical research and, accordingly, adopts the method of criticaland conceptual analysis, with particular attention to the influence of artificial intelligence tools ontourism’s operational landscape. Findings: The findings of this paper show that while modern technology has significantlyinfluenced 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 whichsustainability claims are made are weakened. It further reveals that most existing sustainabilityapproaches are mere claims tied to technological optimism and market-based environmentalism. Implications: This study shows that a more ethically rigorous interpretation of sustainabletourism should move toward ecological reciprocity, communal participation, and intergenerationalresponsibility. It contends that both scholars and practitioners should reconsider the ethicalfoundations of sustainability, while policymakers can apply this knowledge in designing tourismpolicies that prioritize ecological justice and community inclusion. Originality: The thrust of this paper is that it presents earth-eco-socialism as a distinct ethicalframework capable of re-situating the purpose and practice of tourism. It contributes to existingdiscourse by moving beyond conventional sustainability models to responsible tourism throughpresenting a philosophical alternative that integrates ecological justice, collective responsibility,and planetary balance by means of reorientation.