Ecotourism research through the lens of bibliometrics: a 30-year retrospective (1990-2024)

In recent decades, ecotourism has emerged as a sustainable approach to tourism, fostering significant academic interest. However, existing bibliometric analyses often fail to comprehensively address evolving interdisciplinary dynamics, integration of advanced technologies, and emerging global challenges in the field. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 16,238 articles published between 1990 and 2024, sourced from the Dimensions.ai database, to explore the intellectual evolution and thematic trends in ecotourism research. By utilizing citation patterns, co-authorship networks, and co-citation analyses, we identified influential contributors, leading journals, and key themes, such as biodiversity conservation, community empowerment, visitor behavior, and the application of emerging technologies. The findings highlight critical gaps in regional representation, particularly in biodiversityrich but understudied areas such as sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, and underscore the underexplored potential of technologies, such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, in advancing ecotourism practices. This study emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of indigenous knowledge to enhance ecotourism's contributions to global sustainability. Additionally, it proposes actionable future research directions focusing on climate resilience, adaptive management frameworks, and robust policy development. By offering a comprehensive synthesis of three decades of ecotourism research, this study not only traces the intellectual trajectory of the field, but also positions it within the context of contemporary sustainability challenges. This provides a forward-looking agenda for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to address emerging opportunities and challenges, ensuring ecotourism's continued relevance in promoting environmental conservation, socioeconomic development, and global sustainability.