Beyond commodification: a framework for governing indigenous arts for sustainable tourism development

Purpose This study develops a conceptual framework for indigenous arts-based cultural tourism by positioning indigenous arts as cultural commons and providing guidance on operationalizing collective governance and sustainability within tourism systems. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a hybrid deductive-inductive approach. A multi-level conceptual architecture was first deductively derived from Common-Pool Resources, Social Capital, and Cultural Production theories. This theoretical architecture then guided an inductive systematic literature review and meta-synthesis of 65 peer-reviewed articles (2000–2025). Following quality appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programmechecklist, thematic coding was used to populate this pre-defined structure, extracting and hierarchically organizing key concepts into situated practices, governance mechanisms, and institutional structures. Findings Findings identified 36 Situated Cultural Practices (basic themes), grouped into nine Collective Governance Mechanisms (organizing themes) under four Institutional Regulatory Structures (global themes). This three-layered framework is grounded in three theoretical pillars: Common-Pool Resources Theory, Social Capital Theory, and Cultural Production Theory, clarifying the role of each level: Situated Cultural Practices specify what actions sustain cultural resources; Collective Governance Mechanisms describe how actions are implemented through collaboration and networks; and Institutional Regulatory Structures explain why these processes occur within broader political, economic, and legal contexts. Originality/value By integrating these theories, the study advances understanding beyond fragmented sustainability views, reconceptualizing indigenous arts not as passive tourism commodities but as dynamic cultural commons. Through collective governance, authenticity preservation, community empowerment, and the balancing of conservation with innovation, this framework enables sustainable, equitable tourism.