Mapping Tourism Education Research: A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of tourism education research based on 1,373 Scopus-indexed English-language articles. Integrated bibliometric techniques were applied, including descriptive analysis, co-authorship network mapping, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and citation analysis at both the document and author levels. The findings reveal a field that has reached disciplinary maturity, characterised by accelerating publication output and institutional infrastructure established through specialised journals. Academic impact is concentrated among a core group of key contributors, with Airey, D. emerging as the most prolific author with 18 publications in tourism education, while Tribe, J. demonstrates the highest citation impact with 527 citations from just 9 publications. Geographic distribution shows the dominance of the United States as the leading contributor with 212 articles. Thematic analysis documents a substantial evolution from foundational pedagogical concerns towards contemporary emphases on sustainability education, experiential learning approaches, and technology-enhanced instruction. Notably, artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable tourism development have emerged as rapidly growing thematic clusters, signalling a fundamental reorientation of the field towards technology-driven and responsibility-oriented education. Citation analysis reveals intellectual foundations characterised by theoretical continuity and cumulative knowledge development rather than disruptive paradigm shifts, with multiple theoretical clusters representing pedagogical theory, curriculum development, workforce preparation, and sociocultural dimensions of tourism education.