Exploring the State of Research on Tourism Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis in the Post-COVID Era

Abstract

This study conducts a literature analysis on tourism sustainability to understand the current state of research in the field and identify potential areas for future study. The analysis, based on 3823 articles published between 2020–2023, aims to examine the number of citations of the main articles, determine the main authors and countries dealing with tourism sustainability, examine the interactions between authors and countries, and determine which dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental, social, and cultural-historical) attract the most research interest. The results reveal that the economic dimension of sustainability is the most researched followed by the environmental dimension, while the social and cultural-historical dimensions receive less attention. This study provides valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers in the field of sustainable tourism, particularly in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry.

Sustainable Place Branding and Visitors’ Responses: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Additionally, sustainability is the approach of planning a place in terms of re-development and re-branding [21]. The goal of sustainable tourism is to reduce the detrimental consequences of travel on the environment, society, and economy while maximizing the beneficial advantages [4,8,30]. It entails ethical tourism activities that support the sustainability of destinations over the long term and ensure that resources are handled effectively to meet the needs of generations to come.…”

“…Residents' attitudes as ambassadors of the destination must be committed to socially responsible behavior as part of the mentality building in the place [4,25,32]. However, there is a distinction between the perceptions of residents and visitors, whereas, in the case of residents, it is the place.…”

“…Collated studies in tourism have acknowledged the importance of the place as the destination branding in terms of tourism [1,2], especially in the post-pandemic era, which alters the tourism trajectory by providing more eco-and socially friendly-practices in tourism development [3,4]. In particular, place branding is the reputation built through an amalgamation of geographical settings, cultural heritage, modern superstructures, and infrastructure, habits, and rituals [5][6][7].…”

A Bibliometric Analysis of Integrating Tourism Development into Urban Planning

“…Tourism and urban planning are two critical areas that have a significant impact on sustainability [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], and competition between cities [7][8][9] is a modern phenomenon that characterizes the functioning of small and large cities. Urban areas are often the primary destinations for tourists, and while tourism development can bring positive economic benefits, it can also have negative effects on the environment and local communities [7].…”

“…These studies delve into various facets, including the concept of "over tourism" and its intricate relationship with sustainability [3], the interwoven relationship between tourism, sustainability, and competitiveness [9], and the ever-evolving domain of digital transformation in tourism [10]. They also cast their gaze on the post-COVID era, acknowledging the profound impacts of the pandemic on the tourism sector [2] and on the realm of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the tourism sector [4]. Additionally, they explore the role of tourism management and marketing in achieving sustainability [5].…”