Bibliometric insights into sustainable tourism: Analyzing research trends and knowledge gaps
- Social Science in Perspective
- 17(2), Apr-Jun, 2025: p. 219-240
Sustainable tourism plays a pivotal role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development (SDGs) by promoting economic growth, environmental preservation, and social equity. This study describes a bibliometric analysis to examine the evolution, trends and knowledgw gaps within the sustainable tourism research landscape from 2023 to 2024. Data extracted from Web od Science database. Key research themes include environmental impact assessment, community engagement, and the integration of technology in sustainable practices. However, the analysis also identifies notable gaps, such as limited studies on the long- term socio-economic impacts of sustainable tourism, regional disparities in research focus, and in sufficient interdisciplinary approaches. Additionally, the linkage between sustainable tourism initiatives and specific SDGs, such as Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and Responsible consumption and protection (SDG 12) and Climate action (SDG 13), remains inderexplored. This study highlights the need for future research to address these gaps by fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, enhancing regional studies, and deepening the integration of sustainable tourism with the broader SDG framework.
Sustainable tourism, bibliometric analysis, SDGs, environmental impact, VOS viewer