Trends and Perspectives of Marine Sports Tourism: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review

Abstract

Marine sports tourism has emerged as a significant niche within the broader tourism industry, offering unique opportunities for economic development, social well-being, and environmental sustainability. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of marine sports tourism research, examining publications up to July 2024 from the core collection databases of the Web of Science. The analysis assesses the productivity, research themes, and emerging trends within this field. The results indicate significant growth in research output over the past three decades. Saayman M., Giglio V. J., and Van der Merwe P. are identified as the most productive authors, while Australia, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom demonstrate high levels of research productivity and impact. Ocean & Coastal Management is recognized as the most impactful journal. Keyword co-occurrence and clustering analysis revealed four major research clusters: Environmental Impacts and Community Interaction, Conservation and Ecological Impacts, Behavioral Studies and Perceptions, and Management and Scuba Diving. Topic trend analysis highlights a shift in research focus from the environmental impacts of marine sports tourism to a more integrated approach that considers environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Based on the current research landscape and developmental trajectory, the study proposes future research directions, including addressing identified research gaps, enhancing the resilience of marine sports tourism activities, and developing holistic approaches to sustainable tourism from an interdisciplinary perspective.

1. Introduction

Marine sports tourism, an emerging niche within the broader tourism industry, combines recreational sports activities with marine environments to offer unique and multifaceted experiences for tourists [1]. This sector has gained considerable attention due to its potential to stimulate economic growth, enhance social well-being, and promote environmental sustainability [2,3]. The integration of sports and tourism in marine regions provides a dynamic platform for both leisure and competitive activities, attracting a diverse demographic of participants and spectators. As global tourism continues to evolve, marine sports tourism stands out as a promising area for development and research.

Marine sports tourism is a specialized segment of sports tourism that focuses on activities conducted in marine environments. Sports tourism, broadly defined, involves travel away from one’s usual place of residence to participate in or observe sports activities and to visit sports-related attractions or heritage sites [4,5]. Therefore, marine sports tourism encompasses the travel of individuals to engage in or spectate marine sports activities, including events and competitions, as well as to explore marine sports heritage. This form of tourism includes a diverse array of activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, sea fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and swimming, all conducted in marine settings.

Over the past few decades, scholars have extensively studied various aspects of marine sports tourism, including destination-carrying capacity [6], coastal management [7], tourist behavior [8], participants satisfaction [9], and industry development and environmental sustainability [10,11]. However, there remains a gap in the comprehensive bibliometric analysis that maps the research trends in this field. Martin and Assenov [12] conducted a systematic review of surf tourism research published between 1997 and 2011, highlighting areas such as surfing activities, artificial surfing reefs, and the sustainability of surfing sites and host communities as the most discussed topics. Their work suggested that surf tourism is an emerging and promising research area. Martínez Vázquez et al. [11] systematically analyzed marine tourism research published from 1986 to 2020, indicating a growth trend and underscoring the need to clearly define the concept of marine tourism. Selvaduray et al. [13] using bibliometric and content analysis methods, systematically reviewed marine tourism research up to 2022, identifying six major issues including governmental and political support, environmental concerns, and stakeholder collaboration. Although marine sports tourism overlaps with marine tourism in some respects, it distinctly emphasizes the sports aspect, with surf tourism being only a part of marine sports tourism. Given the broad scope, diversity, and significant potential impacts of marine sports tourism, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to fully understand its current research trends and future directions.

This study employs bibliometric analysis to provide a comprehensive and visual examination of the relevant research in marine sports tourism over the past few decades. The aim is to elucidate the development trajectory, research progress, key issues, and hot topics in this field. This study focuses on the following three core questions:

Q1: What is the distribution of productivity among authors and countries/regions in the field of marine sports tourism? Which major journals frequently publish research papers on this topic?

Q2: What has been the focus of marine sports tourism research over the past few decades?

Q3: Based on the existing research and development trajectory, what are the future research frontiers in marine sports tourism?

By answering these questions, this study seeks to enhance the understanding of this dynamic field, contributing to the strategic development of marine sports tourism, guiding future research and decision-making toward more sustainable and innovative practices, and promoting the growth and sustainability of marine sports tourism within the context of global tourism and environmental conservation.

2. Materials and Methods

This study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework [14]. Drawing from the methodology used by Bahoo et al. [15], we employed a combination of bibliometric tools and systematic review techniques. Initially, we conducted a quantitative overview of several networks and clusters, followed by a content analysis of the documents and keywords within each cluster. According to the classification by Paul and Criado [16], this study is categorized as a mixed review.

2.1. Data Collection

The core collection databases of the Web of Science (including SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI, and A&HCI) were selected as the primary data sources for this study. The search was conducted on 3 July 2024, by the first author (SG) with guidance from a librarian experienced in systematic review methodologies. We did not set a specific earliest publication date, opting instead to use the most comprehensive date range available for each database. The records found spanned from 1939 to 2024. To ensure comprehensive data coverage, we employed a specialized search expression based on existing research [11,12] TS = (“coastal sports tourism” OR “marine sports tourism” OR “beach sports tourism” OR “seaside sports tourism” OR “coastal tourism” AND “sports” OR “coastal leisure tourism” OR “marine leisure tourism” OR “beach leisure tourism” OR “seaside leisure tourism” OR “coastal leisure” OR “maritime tourism” OR “water skiing” OR “windsurfing” OR “underwater fishing” OR “scuba diving” OR “swimming” OR “marine park tours” OR “marine parks” OR “surfing” OR “canoeing” OR “sailing” OR “rowing” OR “kite surfing” OR “jet skiing”) AND TS = (“tourism” OR “tourist” OR “travel” OR “recreation” OR “hospitality” OR “destination” OR “vacation”) and manually searched the references of systematic review articles on marine and surf tourism to identify additional eligible articles.

To ensure the relevance of the selected studies, we applied the following inclusion and exclusion criteria: (1) Articles must be peer-reviewed and published in English. (2) Studies must specifically focus on marine sports tourism, encompassing various activities and contexts. (3) Research must be empirical, theoretical, or review-based. (4) Conference papers, book chapters, and dissertations were excluded.

After importing the search results into “biblioshiny” and removing duplicate records, study selection was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, SG and XF performed title and abstract screening, discarding articles deemed irrelevant. In the second stage, SG and XF reviewed the full texts of potentially eligible studies. Disagreements on the full-text review were resolved through discussions with the BZ (corresponding author). Ultimately, 237 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were identified for this study (Figure 1).

2.2. Data Analysis

We conducted a bibliometric analysis of the included data using VOSviewer 1.6.20 and the bibliometrix package in R, with network visualizations created. First, we analyzed publication and citation trends to identify the most prolific and influential research sources and performed network analysis to highlight the relative importance of various knowledge sources. Second, we conducted keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis to identify the main themes within the corpus. Third, we performed thematic trend analysis and co-occurrence analysis using keywords to present the development trends of the research and identify major themes and potential future directions.

2.3. Limitations

Despite the comprehensive nature of this study, several limitations must be acknowledged. First, the analysis was limited to English-language publications, which may have excluded relevant research in other languages, potentially skewing the global perspective of the field. Second, while the study utilized a robust dataset from the Web of Science, it is possible that some relevant publications were not included due to the database’s coverage limitations. Third, the results of this study are influenced by the selection of specific keywords, which may not fully capture all relevant research, particularly in interdisciplinary or emerging fields. Finally, bibliometric analyses, by their nature, focus on quantifiable aspects of research output and may overlook the qualitative nuances of individual studies and the contextual factors influencing research trends.

3. Performance Analysis

This section mainly provides descriptive statistics on the overall development trend in the field of marine sports tourism research, and answers the first research question through the analysis of authors, countries, journals, and articles in the field.

3.1. Time Trend of the Publications

The analysis of the time trend of publications provides valuable insights into the development trajectory and research dynamics within the field of marine sports tourism. As depicted in Figure 2, the publication output in this domain has experienced substantial growth over the past three decades, spanning from 1993 to 2024.

The initial phase of research on marine sports tourism, from 1993 to 2008, was characterized by a relatively modest output. During this period, publications were sporadic, with the number of articles per year generally not exceeding three. This slow growth phase indicates the nascent stage of the field, where foundational concepts and early empirical studies were being established. The sporadic nature of publications in these years reflects the gradual recognition of marine sports tourism as a distinct area of academic inquiry.

Starting from 2009, the field began to witness a noticeable increase in research activity, marking a new phase of growth. This surge was driven by an increasing academic interest and the broader recognition of the economic, social, and environmental significance of marine sports tourism. Several factors contributed to this growth, including the rising popularity of marine sports among tourists, advancements in related technologies, and a greater emphasis on sustainable tourism practices.

The most remarkable surge occurred between 2019 and 2023, with the highest annual output reaching 26 publications in both 2020 and 2021. This peak period underscores the increasing recognition of marine sports tourism as a significant field of study, likely driven by the growing global emphasis on sustainable tourism practices and the economic potential of marine environments. The sustained high level of publications during these years also reflects the concerted efforts of researchers to address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within this sector.

The data for 2024, albeit incomplete, suggest a continued interest with 10 publications recorded by mid-year. The annual growth rate of 7.71% further attests to the dynamic and expanding nature of this research field.

This upward trend in publications is supported by the increasing number of authors contributing to the field. As indicated in Figure 2B, a total of 650 authors have participated in publishing marine sports tourism research, demonstrating a broadening base of scholarly contributors. Additionally, the rise in international co-authorships, accounting for 18.14% of publications, reflects a growing global collaboration and the interdisciplinary nature of this research domain. The increasing scholarly output and collaborative efforts signify a robust and evolving research landscape in marine sports tourism.

3.2. Most Prolific Contributors

The analysis of the most prolific contributors to marine sports tourism research provides valuable insights into the key individuals, countries, and journals driving the development of this field.

Table 1. Most prolific and impactful authors in marine sports tourism research.

Most Prolific Authors		Most Cited Authors
Author	TP	Author	TC
Saayman M.	7	Roberts C. M.	108
Giglio V. J.	6	Hawkins J. P.	68
Van der Merwe P.	6	Barker N. H.	40
Dimnock K.	5	Aldam C.	34
Roberts C. M.	5	De Meyer K.	34
Yao Yunhao.	5	Tratalos J.	34
Hawkins J. P.	4	Vant Hof T.	34
Lucrezi S.	4	Chadwick-Furman Ne.	33
Parmak Merle.	4	Zakai D.	33
Slabbert E.	4	Giglio V. J.	32
Towner N.	4	Austin T. J.	31
Chen T. C.	3	Tratalos J. A.	31
Cheung Lto.	3	Inglis G. J.	29
Dearden P.	3	Saayman M.	29
Ferreira C. E. L.	3	Medio D.	28
Inglis G. J.	3	Ormond R. F. G.	28
Lam T. W. L.	3	Pearson M.	28
Luiz O. J.	3	Bennett M.	24
Ma Ath.	3	Dearden P.	24
Scarpaci C.	3	Luiz O. J.	24

Note: TP = total publication; TC = total citations.

lists the most prolific and impactful authors in marine sports tourism research. Among these, Saayman M., Giglio V. J., and Van der Merwe P. stand out as the most productive authors. In terms of citation impact, Roberts C. M. emerges as a leading figure. The work of these productivity leaders [17,18,19] often revolves around the sustainable development of scuba diving tourism, while the research of Roberts C. M. [20,21] has focused more on the ecological impacts of scuba diving tourism.

Figure 3 illustrates the author collaboration network, highlighting the interconnectedness and collaborative efforts among these prolific researchers. The network visualization reveals several clusters of co-authorship, indicating strong collaborative relationships. Interestingly, among the three most prolific authors, Saayman M. and Van der Merwe P. often collaborated and belonged to the same team, and their team, and that of Giglio V.J., represented the most important collaborative teams. This suggests that high productivity may result from frequent collaboration. Additionally, the top two most cited authors belong to the same team, indicating that teamwork is also crucial for producing high-quality research.

Table 2. Most prolific and impactful countries in marine sports tourism research.

Most Prolific Countries		Most Cited Countries
Country	TP	Country	TC
Australia	84	Australia	1216
China	74	UK	1108
USA	65	USA	759
Portugal	30	South Africa	287
UK	30	Spain	285
Spain	25	China	270
Brazil	17	Israel	270
Italy	16	Brazil	187
South Africa	14	Egypt	177
Canada	9	Canada	163
Germany	9	Austria	142
Mexico	9	Malaysia	85
New Zealand	8	Germany	79
Thailand	8	Portugal	76
France	7	Italy	74
Malaysia	6	Mexico	66
Greece	5	New Zealand	55
Israel	5	Croatia	51
Ecuador	4	Thailand	40
Indonesia	4	Greece	38

Note: TP = total publication; TC = total citations.

identifies the most prolific and impactful countries in marine sports tourism research. Australia, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom are the leading nations, demonstrating a high level of research activity and impact. These countries possess extensive coastlines and diverse marine environments, providing rich contexts for empirical research in marine sports tourism. Furthermore, these countries host leading research institutions and have substantial investments in marine tourism and sports, which likely contribute to their prominent positions in the field [22].

Figure 4 depicts the country-level collaboration network, highlighting international research collaborations. The network reveals that the United States and Australia have extensive collaborative ties with numerous other countries, underscoring their influence and central role in fostering global research in marine sports tourism. This international collaboration is crucial for addressing global challenges in marine sports tourism, such as sustainability and climate change impacts [23]. China’s rapid growth in research output is also notable, reflecting its increasing academic focus on marine and coastal sports tourism.

Table 3. Most prolific and impactful journals in marine sports tourism research.

Journal	h_index	m_index	TC	TP	PY_start	h_index
Journal of Coastal Research	7	11	0.389	160	27	2007
Ocean & Coastal Management	13	19	0.929	492	19	2011
Marine Policy	10	15	0.667	370	15	2010
Sustainability	5	9	0.833	98	15	2019
Journal of Environmental Management	7	9	0.241	298	9	1996
Journal of Sustainable Tourism	7	9	0.636	172	9	2014
Environmental Management	8	8	0.308	472	8	1999
Tourism Management	8	8	0.333	423	8	2001
Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism	4	6	0.8	39	6	2020
Biological Conservation	5	5	0.179	851	5	1997
Coastal Management	5	5	0.25	176	5	2005
Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research	4	5	0.364	100	5	2014
Current Issues in Tourism	4	5	0.286	140	5	2011
Journal of Coastal Conservation	3	5	0.375	60	5	2017
Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems	4	4	0.211	93	4	2006
ICES Journal of Marine Science	3	3	0.13	143	3	2002
International Journal of Tourism Research	3	3	0.214	111	3	2011
Journal of Cleaner Production	3	3	0.15	84	3	2005
South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation	3	3	0.188	38	3	2009
Tourism Economics	3	3	0.176	47	3	2008
Journal of Coastal Research	7	11	0.389	160	27	2007

Note: TC = total citations; TP = total publication; PY_start = Publication Year Start.

presents the most prolific and impactful journals in marine sports tourism research. The h_index is a key metric indicating a journal’s impact, representing the number of articles (h) that have received at least h citations each [24]. The m_index measures the growth rate of a journal’s influence over time. The data from

Table 4. Most cited articles.

Authors	Title	Year	LC	Source Title
Barker, N. H., and Roberts, C. M.	Scuba diver behaviour and the management of diving impacts on coral reefs	2004	40	Biological Conservation
Hawkins, J. P., Roberts, C. M., Van’T Hof, T., et al.	Effects of recreational scuba diving on Caribbean coral and fish communities	1999	34	Conservation biology
Zakai, D., and Chadwick-Furman, N. E.	Impacts of intensive recreational diving on reef corals at Eilat, northern Red Sea	2002	33	Biological Conservation
Tratalos, J. A., and Austin, T. J.	Impacts of recreational SCUBA diving on coral communities of the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman	2001	31	Biological Conservation
Medio, D., Ormond, R. F. G., and Pearson, M.	Effect of briefings on rates of damage to corals by scuba divers	1997	28	Biological Conservation
Davis, D., and Tisdell, C.	Economic management of recreational scuba diving and the environment	1996	19	Journal of Environmental Management
Rouphael, A. B., and Inglis, G. J.	Impacts of recreational scuba diving at sites with different reef topographies	1997	19	Biological Conservation
Uyarra, M. C., Watkinson, A. R., and Cote, I. M.	Managing dive tourism for the sustainable use of coral reefs: validating diver perceptions of attractive site features	2009	19	Environmental Management
Hasler, H., and Ott, J. A.	Diving down the reefs? Intensive diving tourism threatens the reefs of the northern Red Sea	2008	18	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Hawkins, J. P., Roberts, C. M., Kooistra, D., Buchan, K., and White, S.	Sustainability of scuba diving tourism on coral reefs of Saba	2005	17	Coastal Management
Barker, N. H., and Roberts, C. M.	Scuba diver behaviour and the management of diving impacts on coral reefs	2004	40	Biological Conservation
Hawkins, J. P., Roberts, C. M., Van’T Hof, T., et al.	Effects of recreational scuba diving on Caribbean coral and fish communities	1999	34	Conservation biology
Zakai, D., and Chadwick-Furman, N. E.	Impacts of intensive recreational diving on reef corals at Eilat, northern Red Sea	2002	33	Biological Conservation

Note: LC = local citations.

reveal that Ocean & Coastal Management is the most impactful journal in terms of both total citations and the acceleration of its influence (as indicated by the m_index). The Journal of Coastal Research, while prolific in the number of publications, shows a slower growth rate in impact. Marine Policy strikes a balance between these two, with substantial total citations and a consistent rate of influence growth. Overall, these journals play a pivotal role in disseminating key research findings in marine sports tourism, each contributing uniquely to the academic landscape.

3.3. Most Cited Studies

The analysis of the most cited studies in marine sports tourism offers critical insights into the foundational and influential works that have shaped the field. Table 4 presents the top 10 highly cited articles, highlighting their contributions and impact on subsequent research.

Barker and Roberts [21] is a particularly influential article, cited 40 times. This study examines scuba diver behavior and its management to minimize environmental impacts. Barker and Roberts propose various management techniques, including diver education, regulations, and enforcement, to mitigate the adverse effects of diving on marine ecosystems. Their work emphasizes the role of behavioral interventions and regulatory frameworks in promoting sustainable marine tourism.

Hawkins et al. [20], cited 34 times, explores the broader ecological impacts of recreational scuba diving on coral and fish communities. This research reveals that frequent diving activity can lead to shifts in fish populations and coral cover, emphasizing the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems. Their study was pioneering in drawing attention to the broader ecological consequences of diving tourism.

Zakai and Chadwick-Furman [25] and Tratalos and Austin [26] are also highly cited articles. Both assess the impact of recreational scuba diving on coral communities, highlighting the degradation caused by high diving activity. Their findings underscore the need for stringent management practices to mitigate these effects. These articles have been critical in developing conservation strategies and informing policy decisions aimed at protecting coral reefs.

The fifth most cited article is by Medio, Ormond, and Pearson [27]. This study explores the effectiveness of pre-dive briefings in reducing coral damage by scuba divers. The research provides empirical evidence that briefings significantly lower the incidence of coral contact, thereby promoting more sustainable diving practices. This work has been instrumental in shaping guidelines for dive operators worldwide to minimize environmental impacts.

The most cited studies collectively highlight key themes in marine sports tourism research, including sustainability, environmental impact, and management practices. These works underscore the importance of understanding and mitigating the ecological consequences of recreational activities in marine environments. They also emphasize the role of education and regulation in promoting responsible tourism practices.

4. Major Themes in Marine Sports Tourism Research

This section addresses the second research question by elucidating the core themes in marine sports tourism research through keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis. Keyword co-occurrence analysis is a valuable method for understanding the thematic structure and research trends within a field [28]. By examining the frequency and relationships between keywords, we can identify key areas of focus. According to Price’s Law [29], which is applicable not only for identifying core authors but also for high-frequency keywords, a threshold of $M=0.749\times \sqrt{N_{max}}$ (where $N_{max}$ represents the maximum occurrence of a keyword, which, in this study, is 51, calculated using VOSviewer 1.6.20) results in M ≈ 5.35. Therefore, in this study, keywords appearing six or more times are considered high-frequency keywords. Figure 5 presents the keyword co-occurrence network, and

Table 5. Keyword clusters extracted from the VOSviewer 1.6.20.

Cluster	Main Keywords	Other Terms Related to the Keywords
1 (red)	communities; damage	capacity; carrying capacity; climate-change; costal; coral; coral reef; coral reefs; diving; ecotourism; great-barrier-reef; marine protected areas; red-sea; reef; responses; scuba; Tursiops-truncates
2 (green)	conservation; impacts; coral-reefs	benefits; biodiversity; caribbean coral; island; marine protected area; national-park; protected areas; tourism management
3 (blue)	behavior; perceptions	carrying-capacity; coastal management; impact; index; model; specialization; surf tourism; surfing; sustainability
4 (yellow)	management; scuba diving	attitudes; dive tourism; divers; experience; industry; motivation; place attachment; satisfaction

summarizes the keyword clusters extracted from VOSviewer 1.6.20, highlighting the primary focus areas within the literature. The analysis reveals that research on marine sports tourism is organized into four major clusters, each emphasizing different thematic areas.

4.1. Environmental Impacts and Community Interaction (Red Cluster)

The red cluster in our keyword analysis predominantly focuses on the environmental impacts associated with marine sports tourism and its interaction with local communities. Key terms such as “communities”, “damage”, “coral reefs”, and “ecotourism” illustrate a concentrated interest in understanding how marine tourism activities, particularly scuba diving and coastal recreation, affect marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of nearby communities.

Research in this cluster highlights the dual impact of tourism on the environment and local populations. For instance, damage to coral reefs, critical marine ecosystems, has been extensively documented in studies examining the ecological footprint of scuba diving [30]. The degradation of coral reefs not only disrupts marine biodiversity but also impacts local communities reliant on marine resources for their livelihoods. As marine protected areas and conservation efforts expand, there is an increasing focus on balancing tourism development with environmental sustainability. Studies within this cluster [31] emphasize the importance of engaging local communities in conservation efforts to ensure both environmental protection and community well-being. Additionally, this cluster explores the socio-economic implications of environmental damage [32], suggesting that sustainable tourism practices are essential to preserving both natural resources and the socio-economic stability of coastal communities.

4.2. Conservation and Ecological Impacts (Green Cluster)

The green cluster centers on conservation efforts and the broader ecological impacts of marine sports tourism. Keywords such as “conservation”, “impacts”, and “coral reefs” are prominent, reflecting the field’s focus on the ecological consequences of tourism activities and the strategies employed to mitigate these effects.

Studies within this cluster [33] typically examine the effectiveness of conservation measures, such as marine protected areas and sustainable tourism practices, in preserving marine biodiversity. The impact of recreational activities, particularly those involving direct interaction with marine environments like scuba diving, on coral reefs is a recurring theme. Researchers have documented the negative effects of intensive tourism on coral health, including physical damage and stress caused by increased human activity. This cluster also addresses the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecological balance and the need for comprehensive management plans that incorporate both conservation and tourism objectives.

Moreover, the research highlights the significance of educating tourists and operators about the ecological sensitivity of marine environments [34]. By promoting awareness and responsible behavior, it is possible to reduce the negative impacts of tourism on marine ecosystems. The cluster underscores the need for continued research to develop innovative conservation strategies that can accommodate the growing demand for marine tourism while safeguarding critical marine habitats.

4.3. Behavioral Studies and Perceptions (Blue Cluster)

The blue cluster is characterized by an emphasis on the behavioral aspects of marine sports tourism and the perceptions of various stakeholders involved. Key terms such as “behavior”, “perceptions”, and “sustainability” indicate a focus on understanding how the attitudes and behaviors of tourists, operators, and local communities influence the sustainability of marine tourism practices.

Research in this cluster explores the psychological and social factors that drive tourist behavior, particularly in relation to environmentally responsible practices. Studies have shown that tourists’ perceptions of environmental stewardship can significantly affect their behavior, with those who are more aware of the ecological impacts of their activities being more likely to engage in sustainable practices [35]. The blue cluster highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement in promoting sustainable tourism. By understanding the perceptions and motivations of different groups, including tourists, local communities, and industry operators, it is possible to design more effective conservation strategies and management policies [17]. This cluster calls for further research into the social dynamics of marine tourism and the development of interventions that can enhance the sustainability of the industry.

4.4. Management and Scuba Diving (Yellow Cluster)

The yellow cluster focuses on the management of marine sports tourism, with a particular emphasis on scuba diving. The keywords in this cluster, including “management”, “scuba diving”, “satisfaction”, “industry”, and “place attachment”, reflect the comprehensive approach needed to balance environmental conservation with the economic and experiential aspects of tourism.

Research within this cluster typically involves the development and implementation of management strategies aimed at enhancing the sustainability of activities such as scuba diving, while also ensuring that tourists have positive experiences. Studies explore how effective management practices, such as regulating the number of divers at popular sites [36], enforcing environmental guidelines [37], and providing educational briefings [38], contribute to minimizing the ecological footprint of diving [39]. Additionally, this cluster emphasizes the multifaceted nature of marine sports tourism management, integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Effective management strategies must not only protect marine ecosystems but also ensure the economic viability of the industry and the satisfaction of tourists [23]. The inclusion of place attachment as a significant factor highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the psychological connections that marine sports tourism participants form with specific locations, and how these connections can be leveraged to promote conservation and sustainable tourism practices.

4.5. Major Themes in Marine Sports Tourism Research of the Most Prolific Countries

To further investigate the global development of marine sports tourism research, a keyword co-occurrence and clustering analysis was conducted for the three most prolific countries in this field: Australia, China, and the USA. These countries have made significant contributions to the literature, with varying emphases on key topics. The clustering analysis identifies major research themes that are prevalent in each country and reveals both shared and distinct areas of focus.

Table 6. Keyword clusters for the most prolific countries in marine sports tourism research extracted from VOSviewer 1.6.20.

Country	Clusters	Keywords for Core Research Themes
Australia	1	biodiversity; communities; coral reef; damage; great-barrier-reef; impacts; island; scuba diving; regeneration
	2	marine protected area; disturbance; bottle-nosed dolphins; whales; behavior
	3	management; ecotourism; recreation; surfing; economics
	4	perceptions; protected areas; valuation; model; regulations; diver behavior
	5	attitudes; conservation; behavior; aggregation
	6	economic value; marine park; travel cost model; models
China	1	management; scuba diving; social carrying capacity; standards; crowding; settings
	2	impact; damage; coral-reefs; perceptions
	3	specialization; satisfaction; attitude; behavior
	4	coastal; development; cost theory; experience economy
USA	1	conservation; impact; preferences; marine protected areas; carrying-capacity; valuation; model; coastal
	2	scuba diving; reserves; marine ecotourism; coral reefs; human disturbance
	3	management; communities; diving impacts; abundance; briefings
	4	behavior; surfing; serious leisure; destination; experience; recreation specialization; place attachment

summarizes the main keyword clusters for each country, extracted from VOSviewer 1.6.20.

The results of Table 6 indicate that management, environmental impacts, and tourist perceptions and behavior are central themes shared across Australia, China, and the USA. However, the specific research focuses within these themes differ in each country. Australia’s research emphasizes coral reef conservation, biodiversity, and marine ecosystem protection, driven by its unique ecological assets, such as the Great Barrier Reef [40]. In contrast, China’s focus is on management practices, social carrying capacity, and economic development, reflecting its rapidly expanding marine sports tourism sector [22]. The USA highlights recreation specialization and leisure activities, with particular attention to the impacts on local communities and the sustainability of marine protected areas. These differences reflect each country’s distinct research priorities and approaches to integrating marine sports tourism into broader environmental and economic goals.

5. Research Trends and Future Directions

This section addresses the third research question by revealing thematic progress in marine sports tourism research through topic trend analysis and identifying research frontiers through a co-occurrence analysis of recent studies.

5.1. Identifying Thematic Progress with Topic Trend Analysis

The analysis of research trends through topic trend analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of how thematic focuses in the field of marine sports tourism have evolved over time. Figure 6 illustrates the trend topics extracted from the “Keywords Plus” field, highlighting the temporal progression of key research themes within the domain. The figure displays the time span (in years) for which each keyword was in use. The size of the bubbles within each line represents the frequency of keyword occurrence, with larger bubbles indicating higher frequency.

In the early stages (1988–2006) of marine sports tourism research, the focus was primarily on understanding the environmental impacts of tourism activities, particularly concerning coral reefs and marine ecosystems. Terms such as “reef”, “damage”, “sites”, “capacity”, and “responses” dominate this period, reflecting the field’s initial concerns with the physical degradation of coral reefs due to activities like scuba diving and the carrying capacity of marine environments. These foundational studies were crucial in establishing the need for sustainable management practices and informed the development of marine protected areas to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism.

As the field progressed (2007–2014), there was a noticeable shift toward topics related to “management”, “protected areas”, “impacts”, and “tourism”. During this period, there was a growing recognition of the need for structured management approaches to balance tourism development with environmental conservation [41,42]. Researchers increasingly explored the role of marine protected areas and sustainable tourism practices in mitigating the negative impacts of marine sports tourism while promoting ecological and economic sustainability.

In recent years (2015–2024), the focus of research has expanded to include more nuanced aspects of marine sports tourism, such as “behavior”, “satisfaction”, “loyalty”, and “perceptions”. These terms indicate a growing interest in the psychological and social dimensions of marine tourism. Understanding tourist behavior, motivations, and perceptions has become increasingly important for developing strategies that enhance the sustainability of tourism practices while ensuring positive tourist experiences.

The prominence of terms like “knowledge”, “index”, “model”, and “motivation” in recent publications suggests that researchers are now delving into the factors that influence tourist satisfaction and their long-term engagement with marine sports tourism. This shift reflects a broader trend toward a more holistic understanding of tourism, where the interplay between environmental, social, and economic factors is critically examined.

5.2. Identifying Future Directions Using Analysis of Research Frontiers

The analysis of recent publications over the past three years helps to identify emerging research frontiers that offer opportunities for future exploration [43]. A co-occurrence analysis of keywords from marine sports tourism studies published since 2021, as shown in Figure 7, reveals four major clusters, each representing a different research domain. These clusters provide insights into current research frontiers and suggest potential directions for future research.

The first research frontier involves environmental impacts and conservation. Represented by the red cluster in Figure 7, this area includes keywords such as “scuba diving”, “perceptions”, “impacts”, “conservation”, and “marine protected areas”. The prominence of these terms reflects a sustained interest in the environmental consequences of marine sports tourism, particularly scuba diving, and the critical role of conservation strategies in mitigating these impacts. The frequent appearance of “perceptions” suggests that stakeholders, including tourists and local communities, are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of tourism [44]. Understanding these perceptions is crucial for developing policies that not only protect ecosystems but also gain public support. Future research should focus on assessing the effectiveness of conservation initiatives within marine protected areas and exploring how various stakeholders perceive these efforts, particularly regarding their long-term sustainability.

The second research frontier focuses on management and risk assessment. Represented by the green cluster in Figure 7, this area includes keywords such as “management”, “index”, “knowledge”, “diver behavior”, and “risk assessment”, indicating a strong focus on the management and safety aspects of marine sports tourism. This cluster highlights the need for comprehensive management frameworks that address both operational aspects of tourism and the associated risks, particularly those related to scuba diving [45]. The inclusion of terms like “rescues” and “risk assessment” signals a continuing concern with ensuring the safety of participants in marine sports activities. Future research could explore the development and implementation of integrated management systems that incorporate risk assessment and mitigation strategies, aiming to enhance safety while maintaining the appeal and accessibility of marine sports tourism.

The third research frontier, represented by the blue cluster in Figure 7, focuses on behavioral studies and perceptions. Keywords such as “model”, “impact”, “satisfaction”, “carrying capacity”, and “communities” define this cluster, which centers on understanding the behavioral aspects of marine sports tourism and how these influence both the environment and the communities involved. This cluster suggests a growing interest in how tourism models can be optimized to balance environmental protection with visitor satisfaction. The concept of “carrying capacity” is particularly pertinent, as it relates to the limits of tourism growth in specific areas without causing significant environmental degradation or reducing the quality of the visitor experience [46]. Future research in this area might focus on refining these models, exploring how different variables (such as visitor numbers, environmental sensitivity, and community engagement) interact to affect the sustainability of marine sports tourism.

The fourth research frontier involves motivation and tourist experience. Represented by the yellow cluster in Figure 7, this area includes terms like “experience”, “motivation”, “intentions”, “attitude”, and “divers”, highlighting a research focus on the psychological and experiential dimensions of marine sports tourism. This cluster suggests that understanding the motivations behind tourists’ participation in marine sports and their subsequent experiences is key to enhancing both the quality of these experiences and the sustainability of the industry. The frequent mention of “motivation” and “experience” indicates that these factors are increasingly being seen as critical to designing tourism products that not only satisfy tourists but also encourage environmentally responsible behavior [47]. Future studies might investigate how different motivational factors influence tourists’ attitudes toward sustainability and how these attitudes, in turn, shape their behavior during marine sports activities.

6. Conclusions and Prospects

6.1. Conclusions

This study provides the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis and systematic review of the marine sports tourism field, offering valuable insights into its development trajectory, key themes, and emerging research frontiers.

Through a systematic examination of publication trends, influential contributors, and key research areas, we identified significant growth in research output over the past three decades, with a noticeable surge in recent years. This reflects the increasing academic interest and recognition of the economic, social, and environmental importance of marine sports tourism.

Our analysis identified four major research clusters: Environmental Impacts and Community Interaction, Conservation and Ecological Impacts, Behavioral Studies and Perceptions, and Management and Scuba Diving. These clusters illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of marine sports tourism, linking environmental, social, and economic aspects that are crucial to the field’s continued development. In addition, the cross-country comparison of China, the USA, and Australia revealed distinct regional research priorities. This comparison enriches our understanding of how regional contexts shape marine sports tourism research globally.

By mapping these core themes and regional distinctions, this study contributes to the literature by offering a clearer understanding of the field’s current trajectory and providing a framework for addressing emerging challenges, such as sustainable management and socio-economic impacts.

6.2. Prospects

Looking ahead, the field of marine sports tourism is poised for continued expansion and diversification. Future research should aim to address the identified gaps, particularly in the areas of risk management, stakeholder perceptions, and the integration of technological innovations into tourism practices. There is also a need for more interdisciplinary studies that combine insights from environmental science, economics, psychology, and tourism management to develop holistic approaches to sustainable tourism. Additionally, as the impacts of climate change become increasingly apparent, research should focus on the resilience of marine sports tourism activities and the adaptive strategies necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of this sector.