Tourist practices in the circular economy

Circular economy theory offers a business- and solution-oriented approach to environmental sustainability. However, in the context of tourism, it ignores the central role of tourists in the production of tourism experiences. This article discusses how tourists' practices may sustain the development of circular economy in tourism, applying a practice theory that emphasises changes in what tourists do rather than in tourism products and services. To determine which tourist practices might support a circular economy, we used the Delphi and future workshop methods. Our findings reveal several potential tourist practices, but also highlight inherent paradoxes within these practices, a lack of consensus about them among experts, and questions about how they may develop. •It is suggested how tourists' practices may sustain circular economy in tourism.•A Delphi and future workshop study are reported.•Findings reveal several potentially relevant existing and future tourist practices.•Paradoxes and lack of consensus about practices among experts are emphasised.