This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) about industrial tourism and intends to show how this product can increase sustainability and competitiveness in operating industrial companies. It uses bibliometric analysis with data from 32 journal articles that address this topic. Through this sample of articles, we do not intend to generalize conclusions but rather to concretely identify factors of sustainability and competitiveness based on a set of scientific studies that met a very specific set of criteria. Industrial tourism is categorized as a form of tourism encompassing excursions to industrial locations spanning the spectrum of contemporary, historical, or prospective significance. This encompasses venues that have ceased their industrial operations, presently functioning industrial enterprises, and forthcoming industrial establishments. Additionally, it involves visits to other destinations with an industrial theme, such as industrial technology hubs, museums, industrial tourist routes, educational institutions with industrial programs, laboratories, and analogous venues. The focus of this article is to analyze the literature on industrial tourism from the point of view of active industrial companies, the so-called “living industry”, to identify how this type of tourism can contribute to enhancing these companies. Industrial tourism allows industrial companies to achieve environmental, social, and economic benefits and can be seen as a marketing tool and a promoter of innovation within companies.

This article contributes to a conceptual clarification and an understanding of how industrial tourism research has evolved. It is based on a literature review of scientific research produced over the past 25 years, focusing on its relation to regional development. The analysis was based on 51 scientific articles retrieved from the Scopus database. The growing interest in this theme, which is transversal to several research areas, is evident, adopting, in most cases, a qualitative methodology of case studies. As a promoter of regional development, industrial tourism has positive aspects, such as economic, social, and ecological benefits, among others, but also some constraints, such as excessive commercialization and loss of authenticity of the places. Thus, this work also contributes to identifying this product's impacts and development strategies in the territories. Este artigo contribui para uma clarificação conceptual e uma compreensão de como a investigação em turismo industrial tem evoluído. Baseia-se numa revisão bibliográfica da investigação científica produzida ao longo dos últimos 25 anos, centrada na sua relação com o desenvolvimento regional. A análise foi baseada em 51 artigos científicos identificados da base de dados Scopus. O crescente interesse por este tema, transversal a várias áreas de investigação, é evidente, adotando, na maioria dos casos, uma metodologia qualitativa de estudos de casos. Como promotor do desenvolvimento regional, o turismo industrial tem aspetos positivos, tais como benefícios económicos, sociais e ecológicos, entre outros, mas também alguns constrangimentos, tais como uma comercialização excessiva e a perda de autenticidade dos locais. Assim, este trabalho contribui também para identificar os impactos e estratégias de desenvolvimento deste produto nos territórios.

Sustainable tourism has emerged as a critical focus in contemporary discussions surrounding environmental conservation and social responsibility. As global tourism continues to expand, the need for sustainable practices becomes increasingly urgent to mitigate adverse impacts on natural ecosystems and support local communities. This article presents a systematic literature review dedicated to exploring the key research trends in sustainable tourism from 2015 to 2024. The review aims to synthesize existing knowledge and highlight the importance of sustainability in the tourism sector. Data for this review was collected from the Scopus database, utilizing the keywords "sustain* tourism". This search yielded a total of 620 articles, reflecting a robust body of research in this vital area. A thematic evolution analysis was subsequently conducted to map the most prominent research areas and uncover existing gaps and opportunities for future inquiry. By focusing on the evolution of themes within the field, this study provides insights into both current and emerging topics relevant to sustainable tourism. Findings show that, the themes in sustainable tourism research have shown both divergence and convergence over time. From 2015–2019, "sustainable tourism" split into "sustainable tourism," "governance," and "development" by 2020–2022, with the latter two peaking during this period. Simultaneously, topics like "community participation," "place attachment," and others converged into "sustainable tourism." By 2023–2024, research trends displayed greater specificity. The findings from this literature review are importance to various stakeholders, including academics, policymakers, businesses, and governmental agencies. By offering a thorough perspective on sustainable tourism research, the review aims to facilitate informed decision-making processes and foster the development of more effective strategies that address sustainability challenges within the tourism industry. Furthermore, this article serves as a vital resource for guiding future research endeavours and practical applications aimed at resolving the complex issues associated with sustainability in tourism. Ultimately, the emphasis on sustainable tourism practices not only contributes to the conservation of natural and cultural resources but also ensures the well-being of local communities and the overall health of tourist destinations. By fostering collaborative efforts, this review underscores the importance of integrating sustainability into the core of tourism development strategies for a more equitable and sustainable future.

This article delves into the potential of industrial tourism and emphasizes its significance as an innovative and sustainable product for industrial companies. The research question driving this exploration is, "How can industrial tourism contribute to business innovation?" In answering this question, the article provides valuable insights into the development of strategies that allow companies to leverage industrial tourism for their benefit, ultimately positioning it as a strategic factor for enhancing their competitiveness. As part of an ongoing research project, the study adopts the Delphi research methodology and presents the initial findings from the first round of questionnaires administered to a panel of 27 experts. The results demonstrate that industrial tourism can act as a catalyst for innovation within industrial companies, making a notable impact across various areas, including Operations, Marketing, and Human Resources. Moreover, the findings indicate that generating additional income, prioritizing environmental and social integrity, and preserving industrial heritage is closely associated with innovation through industrial tourism. The research underscores the pivotal role of the Financial, Operational, and Human Resources areas within industrial companies for the successful diversification into industrial tourism. However, the strategic alignment of the company's overall vision with industrial tourism is equally fundamental. Despite not being the primary focus of industrial companies, industrial tourism emerges as a potent source of innovation and competitiveness within these organizations. The results suggest that the Financial, Operational, and Human Resources areas of industrial companies are central to the success of diversification to Industrial Tourism. Still, it is fundamental that the company strategy is aligned with industrial Tourism. Although Industrial Tourism is not the focus of industrial companies, it can be a source of innovation and competitiveness within companies.

This paper explores Industrial Tourism (IT) within Portuguese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It aims to identify the main challenges and opportunities of this tourism product and offers suggestions to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of these organizations. This research seeks to understand the perspective of active industrial enterprises, or the "living industry," and how this type of tourism can enhance their sustainability and competitiveness. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire administered to 186 SMEs in Portugal. The findings show that most Portuguese SMEs do not engage in IT, mainly due to logistical, security, and strategic concerns. However, the study concludes that IT offers opportunities for SMEs to improve their marketing approaches, societal relationships, business strategies, and human resources.

Objective: This article explores how to incorporate industrial tourism into active industrial companies, whose main focus is industrial production rather than tourism. In contrast to most of the research on industrial tourism, this article focuses on the point of view of active industrial companies, the so-called "living industry", to identify the impact of this product on industrial companies, as well as strategies and barriers to its implementation. Theoretical Framework: Industrial tourism includes visits to industrial sites that have ceased their operations, industrial companies currently in operation and future industrial establishments, as well as visits to other destinations with an industrial theme, such as industrial technology hubs, museums, industrial tourist routes, educational institutions with industrial programs, laboratories and similar sites. Method: The Delphi methodology was employed, involving 27 experts, both academics and practitioners, with different backgrounds, such as Anthropology, Tourism, Business Sciences, Marketing, Economics, International Public Relations, History, Museology, Cultural Heritage, Art and History. Results and Discussion: The results provide new knowledge on the advantages, weaknesses, strategies and barriers to implementing Industrial Tourism in active industrial companies, promoting the development of l business strategies and future studies on this subject. Implications of the Research: The research contributes to understanding the challenges to implementing this tourism product, offering a basis for analyzing and formulating successful business strategies. Originality/Value: The study proposes a practical approach to the applicability of industrial tourism to industrial companies, providing relevant information for industrial companies, government bodies and other stakeholders.