Stakeholder Engagement and Resilience in Recurrent Crisis Environments: The Case of a Sustainable Rural Tourism Project in Lebanon

This study deals with the critical role of stakeholder engagement in fostering the resilience of sustainable rural tourism projects in contexts of recurring crises. A single embedded case study was conducted using triangulated data from 16 semi-structured interviews, two months of participant observation, and content analysis of social media posts. Thematic coding identified key stakeholder dynamics and resilience mechanisms. Mainly, stakeholder engagement emerged across three interrelated dimensions – moral, strategic, and pragmatic. Emotional bonds among stakeholders, co-created initiatives, and inclusive leadership were central to resilience. Adaptive responses included market diversification, environmental integration, and locally embedded value chains. This study contributes to stakeholder theory and tourism resilience research by revealing the role of emotional engagement of stakeholders and community-based adaptive strategies. Lebanon’s volatile context offers unique insights into resilience within fragile tourism ecosystems. Managerially, fostering trust-based relationships, diversifying partnerships, and embedding community stewardship are essential for ensuring rural tourism’s long-term viability.