Is governance a driver of sustainability transitions? Evidence from tourism and urban socio-technical systems

This paper consolidates the fragmented literature on governance of tourism and urban sociotechnical systems. Using a systematic literature review and drawing on the multi-level perspective and governance theories, we identify the dominant governance forms influencing sustainability transitions in these systems. Our findings demonstrate that governance forms are context-specific, reflecting individual variations in sociotechnical system configurations. We show that reliance on a single governance model, rather than hybrid governance configurations, limits sociotechnical systems' ability to address the complexity and uncertainty inherent in sustainability transitions. The study highlights how path-dependence and path-creation influence governance efficacy. We also extend the multi-level perspective by incorporating a justice dimension, demonstrating that regimes are stabilized not only through institutional inertia but also through the exclusion of marginalized voices. Finally, we position governance as an endogenous regime component rather than an external factor. The paper outlines practical implications, identifies limitations, and suggests areas for further research.