The different characteristics of literacy scales in tourism, together with the variety of constructs, the methods and samples used, lead to a need for a structured overview of prior research in the field. Through a systematic review of the literature, the purpose of this practice paper is to present a concise view of the methods, samples and literacy scales used in tourism, as well as a synthesis of prior findings on the effects of literacy constructs on perceptions, intentions, and behavioral variables. Based on the review, this practice paper presents a research agenda on literacy in tourism.