Destination sustainability in the sharing economy: a conceptual framework applying the capital theory approach

The introduction of the sharing economy has been seen as a potential pathway to destination sustainability. However, without a holistic measurement, its impact on destination sustainability is unclear. This study introduces the capital theory approach to define destination sustainability via four capitals: natural, manufactured, human, and social. Each capital is further deconstructed into five stakeholders, their assets, and co-created service values supported by well-established theories (stakeholder theory, resource theory, and service-dominant logic) to fit the context. Based on a layer-by-layer analysis, a comprehensive conceptual framework is proposed to delineate the relationship between the sharing economy and destination sustainability from a destination capital’s perspective. The framework provides knowledge advancement and practical guidance for destination sustainability in the sharing economy.