Tourism research and tackling vandalism: Shifting the approach.

This article focuses on approaches to preventing vandalism in tourism, comparing positivist and constructivist paradigms and proposing the Prevention-Restoration-Education-Participation (PREP) framework as an integrated model aligned with constructivist principles. The PREP framework emphasizes coordinated, multi-stakeholder interventions that involve local communities and visitors through education and participation, alongside prevention and restoration strategies such as environmental design and rapid repair. The paper argues that sustainable vandalism control requires understanding the social context and motivations behind vandalism, advocating for community engagement and tailored, multi-dimensional approaches rather than solely punitive or top-down measures. It also highlights the need for further research on generational differences, specific vandalism types, and diverse cultural and geographic settings to enhance the effectiveness of vandalism management in tourism.