INSTITUTIONAL THEORY IN TOURISM STUDIES: EVIDENCE AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The present article focuses on the effective application of the Institutional Theory as a theoretical perspective in scientific studies. The particular goal is to present a literature review about the Institutional Theory applied to the tourism industry, particularly the wine tourism segment. Different research areas are identified among those developed within institutional premises in tourism studies. The present review discusses the influence of the institutional framework in the organizational behavior and the pursuit of social legitimacy of tourism organizations. The Institutional Theory presents itself as a consolidated theoretical perspective used to explain organizational behaviors; however, it has been poorly used in tourism studies. It is in this sense that this article offers significant contributions by gathering a theoretical discussion body of the Institutional Theory in the tourism industry, which could lead to practical implications concerning the public and private management of this sector. This article provides theoretical reflections for future research directions with the Institutional Theory in wine tourism and adds to the few tourism studies developed with an institutional perspective.