The growth of the tourism industry has emphasized the need for sustainable development within the tourism sector (Lang et al. in Sustain Sci. 7(S1):25–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-011-0149-x, 2012}. Sustainable tourism development balances economic benefits with environmental preservation and minimizes negative impacts. To achieve this, a long-term sustainable strategy for planning, managing, and monitoring tourism activities is necessary (Fahmawee and Jawabreh in Jordan GeoJ Tour Geos. 46(1):27–36. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.46103-997, 2023}. This study analyses sustainable tourism strategies in 15 UNWTO recognized tourism villages across Asia–Pacific using a multiple case study approach. Cross case analysis identified success factors in four sustainability dimensions, i.e., social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors. The study results reveal that community empowerment, cultural preservation, and eco-friendly infrastructure are key drivers of sustainable tourism development. These findings provide actionable insights for stakeholders to replicate these practices.
