| Time | Brier (2005), Fowles (1974), Lichty (2023), Nordlund (2012), Pöppel (2009) | Temporal orientation of past, present, and future; includes linear, cyclical and subjective perspectives | Futures studies, philosophy, cultural studies, physics | Shapes how tourism scenarios are constructed (planning horizons, memories, seasonality, long-term strategies) |
| Space | Buhalis et al. (2023), Córdoba Azcárate (2025), Dhami et al. (2022), Filimonau et al. (2024), Leiper (1990), Prideaux (2000), Rosselló et al. (2020), Schroeder (1993) | The physical and virtual environments within which tourism occurs | Geography, digital studies, physics | Destinations, attractions, networks, mobility systems and virtual spaces (e.g. metaverse) |
| Agency | Brassett (2021), Granjou et al. (2017), Hall (2011), Lee et al.(2010), Jamal and Getz (1995), Milano et al. (2024), Roxas et al. (2020) | The capacity of actors to shape futures; distinguished as protagonists (supportive) and antagonists (oppositional) | Sociology, management, political science | Stakeholders such as governments, businesses, NGOs and communities influence which futures become plausible |
| Uncertainty | Bevan (2022), Buhalis and Law (2008), Koçak et al. (2023), Lee et al. (2021), Navío-Marco et al. (2018), Rosselló et al. (2020), Scott et al. (2019) | The degree to which outcomes are indeterminate, unpredictable or probabilistic | Futures studies, decision theory | Shocks (e.g. pandemics), risks (e.g. climate) and surprises (e.g. disruptive technologies) frame the plausibility of scenarios |
| Entropy | Floyd (2007), Funtowicz and Ravetz (1997), Li et al. (2025), Shannon (1948), Wehrl (1978) | The universal tendency of systems towards “disorder” unless sustained by energy input | Thermodynamics, information theory | Explains why scenarios decay, why energy and management effort are required to sustain tourism futures |