Revisiting sustainable tourism research: bibliometric insights and future research agenda

  • Arslan Rafi
  • , Mohsin Abdur Rehman
  • , Antoine Musu
  • , Raouf Ahmad Rather*
  • , Pradeep Kautish
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This bibliometric review synthesizes sustainable tourism research over the past three decades, focusing on its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on 1,383 journal articles from the Web of Science database, the RStudio Bibliometrix package analysed bibliometric performance, thematic maps, and co-occurrence networks. The findings highlight the role of sustainable tourism in advancing different SDGs. Findings also indicate three broader thematic areas for future research, including regenerative tourism ecosystems, responsible tourism behaviours, and right-sizing tourism. Through this review, we propose future research directions to enhance knowledge on sustainable tourism and its contribution to the SDGs, providing a strategic roadmap for researchers and policymakers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)347-362
Number of pages16
JournalAnatolia
Volume36
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2025
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

  • Sustainable tourism
  • bibliometric analysis
  • future research directions
  • sustainable travel
  • thematic evolution
  • thematic map

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Earth-Surface Processes

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