Although the overall extent of extreme global poverty has decreased in recent years, the level of income disparity remains historically high in several nations, continuing to raise concerns. From a theoretical perspective, the tourism sector has the potential to significantly contribute to the fight against poverty and income disparities. However, the current limited body of empirical literature has so far failed to reach a unanimous agreement regarding this potential opportunity. The aim of this article is to review existing studies which address the nexus between tourism expansion and income inequality, and to indentify future research trajectories.