Children, defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as individuals under 18, comprise 31% of the global population, with 87% residing in the Global South (Schänzel & Yang, 2024). Despite their demographic significance and active roles in both consuming and hosting tourism, children remain marginalised in tourism research. Historically, scholarship has prioritised adult perspectives. However, recent research has increasingly acknowledged children as active participants and social agents within tourism contexts.

Studies have begun to explore children’s experiences more inclusively, yet much of the literature remains skewed towards wellbeing narratives, overlooking complex issues such as child labour, exploitation, and the impacts of tourism on host children. With up to 19 million children involved in tourism-related work, and emerging research on children in family-based tourism enterprises (Canosa & Schänzel, 2021), critical gaps persist—especially concerning children in host communities (Koščak et al., 2024).

A growing body of work advocates for child-inclusive, participatory methodologies that recognise children as competent social actors (Schänzel, Khoo & Yang, 2026). Grounded in the principles of childism, this approach challenges adultist biases that frame children as passive or incomplete. It argues for their recognition as rights-holders capable of contributing valuable insights into tourism experiences and impacts.

Considering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and broader human rights imperatives, tourism scholarship must expand to include diverse childhoods and geographies. Children, whether tourists or hosts, are vital stakeholders in tourism systems. Greater inclusion of their voices is essential to developing equitable, child-aware, and socially sustainable tourism futures.