Smart Tourism Research: Where Are We Going: A Science Map of the Field

Abstract

This study aims to assess the trends in smart tourism systematically. From a bibliometric perspective, this study aims to investigate the research trends and map smart tourism worldwide visually. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 176 relevant documents from the Scopus database. The research methodology includes co-word and co-citation analyses to assess the productivity, impact, and performance of countries, journals, authors, and research institutions. The study shows that the number of publications increases yearly, with the United Kingdom, Spain, China, and South Korea emerging as the top contributors. Keyword analysis identified four prominent research themes, characterized by 32 keywords with a least six occurrences. The clusters are (1)-ST destination management and tourist behaviour in the digital age; (2)-ST and sustainability in rural and heritage destinations; (3)-The impact of digital technology and digitalization on the tourism industry during and after the pandemic; (4)-ST and digital transformation in experience and sustainable development. Co-citation analysis of cited authors yielded a network of three clusters: Technology and Information Systems in ST, User Interaction and ST Experience, ST Development, and Digital Technology Application. The study’s limitations include focusing only on the Scopus database without incorporating systematic review and content analysis. However, the authors believe that the findings capture the overall intellectual framework of the study because of the selection criteria used to determine which databases to analyze. The findings indicate that smart tourism research is still at a developmental stage, and notable knowledge gaps persist. This study aims to advance scholarly understanding and provide practical implications for stakeholders.

Keywords: Smart Tourism, E-Tourism, Bibliometric Analysis, Science Map

View PDF