This article conceptualizes active tourism as a strategy for promoting physical activity (PA) among children and adolescents and examines the literature that has analyzed its different modalities and their application across diverse settings and contexts. A systematic review (2015–2025) was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020, with searches performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, alongside rigorous screening procedures and methodological quality assessment. Twelve studies were included, covering experiential and knowledge-oriented modalities implemented in curricular, extracurricular, family, and community contexts. The results show that active tourism increases PA frequency, duration, and intensity, and enhances physical fitness indicators as well as psychosocial variables (intrinsic motivation, enjoyment, autonomy, and competence). Experiential modalities and rural/natural environments predominate, generally yielding stronger effects than urban or mixed settings; however, these latter contexts broaden reach and equity by integrating activities into daily routines. Conceptual heterogeneity and the scarcity of longitudinal studies limit the estimation of sustained effects and the comparison across modalities. At present, active tourism emerges as a transversal approach to promoting meaningful PA in children and adolescents, integrating movement, learning, and well-being. Comparative and longitudinal designs capable of quantifying dose–response patterns by modality and setting are recommended, as well as policies that strengthen school–family–community linkages to enhance adherence and reduce inequalities in access to active opportunities.

Population aging represents one of the major demographic challenges of the 21st century, driving the need for strategies that promote active aging and overall well-being. In this context, tourism has been identified as a potentially relevant activity associated with quality of life in older age, as it integrates physical, psychological, and social components. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the scientific evidence published between 2015 and 2026 on the relationship between tourism participation and active aging in older adults (≥60 years). Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, identifying 1187 records, of which 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the evidence indicates associations between tourism participation and improvements in functional physical health, psychological well-being, and social participation, with no consistent evidence of adverse effects. As a theoretical contribution, the Tourism-Active Aging Multidimensional Model (TAMM) is proposed as a conceptual framework that integrates the key mechanisms identified in the literature into three interrelated dimensions, behavioral engagement, emotional processes, and social interaction, all of which are influenced by individual and contextual factors. The evidence obtained suggests potential of tourism as a complementary strategy to promote active aging.

The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the scientific evidence published between 2015 and 2025 on the impact of active tourism in reducing sedentary behavior among children and adolescents, and its implications for health promotion and the economic development of the sector. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed, with searches conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, including 13 studies with approximately 3100 participants across school, extracurricular, and residential camp contexts. The results show a consistent decrease in sedentary time during participation in active tourism programs, with moderate reductions in short-term interventions (≈5–15% or 20–30 min/day) and substantial decreases of up to 1.5–2 h per day in immersive programs. This displacement is mainly accompanied by increases in light physical activity, more limited improvements in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and reductions in screen time when the use of electronic devices is restricted. Overall, active tourism emerges as an effective and safe intervention with biopsychosocial benefits to counteract sedentary lifestyles in the young population. Furthermore, it demonstrates considerable applied potential as a driver of economic development by generating demand for educational, recreational, and tourism services, fostering destination diversification, and promoting sustainable territorial growth models.