<p>Nowadays, various uncertain factors pose significant disruptions to tourism development, presenting formidable challenges for sustainable tourism that cannot be ignored. Therefore, improving the ability of the tourism social-ecological system to cope with disturbances has become the key, and the research on tourism social-ecological system resilience (TSESR) has attracted more and more attention. This study aims to explore and clarify the resilience characteristics of tourism social-ecological systems and the mechanisms by which they cope with disturbances, proposing a systematic research framework for TSESR. This paper reviews the relevant literature on TSESR, analyzes the connotation, composition and disturbance of tourism social-ecological systems, clarifies the definition, dimensions, processes and mechanisms of TSESR, and proposes the research framework and future directions of TSESR. The conclusion is that the tourism social-ecological system faces three types of disturbances: natural, human-induced, and socio-natural. TSESR encompasses four dimensions: tourism ecological resilience, tourism economic resilience, tourism social resilience, and tourism cultural resilience, as well as four stages: resistance, recovery, adaptation, and renewal. The core structure of the tourism social-ecological system itself plays a responsive role in resilience to counteract disturbance factors, collectively forming the mechanism process of TSESR. Finally, this paper proposes a research framework for TSESR, including concepts, mechanisms, assessment, and management. The implications of this research are significant, as further studies in these areas will advance theoretical understanding and promote the development of more resilient tourism social-ecological systems.</p>