Search Results (126)

Although open innovation is not novel within the business sector, it has recently garnered increasing scholarly interest. However, empirical investigations applying this concept to the tourism industry remain scarce. Despite tourism being one of the most significant contributors to the global economy, it continues to face persistent challenges, including political standpoints. Within this context, implementing open innovation emerges as a potentially transformative strategy. This study examines the application of open innovation to the tourism industry. Drawing upon a detailed analysis of 35 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the Scopus database, the study adopts the PRISMA methodology to ensure methodological rigor and transparency. Articles were retrieved using a predefined search string: “Open innovation” AND “tourism industry” OR “tourism” OR “hospitality” OR “hotels” OR “leisure”. The selection process followed the PRISMA guidelines and included only peer-reviewed journal articles in English within Business and Economics. The findings reveal that open innovation enables stakeholder collaboration, supports service and experience co-creation, and facilitates digital and organizational transformation across diverse tourism contexts. The analysis shows that recent contributions in this field tend to converge around four key thematic areas: the role of open innovation in enhancing destination branding and experiential value; the importance of stakeholder collaboration and co-creation; the internal dynamics of employee empowerment and innovation culture within tourism firms; and the strategic use of digital technologies to drive transformation and resilience in the face of industry challenges. Full article

This study aims to examine the evolution of the literature related to human capital in the field of tourism, specifically addressing the gender dimension. It represents a novel approach to this field of study and promises to offer new perspectives and contribute to the debate on tourism management with equality of opportunity. To achieve this aim, a quantitative methodology was applied through a bibliometric analysis of 234 articles, published between 2020 and 2024, extracted from Web of Science and Scopus. Among the main results, a high level of collaboration and research on the topic, with a stable and growing trend, was observed. Influential journals include the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Sustainability, and the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. Future research is suggested to focus on the impact of the female human capital on tourism management, as well as a qualitative analysis for a better understanding of the topic. Full article

This study examined the trends and key themes of artificial intelligence in the field of tourism and hospitality research. On 5 March 2025, a search was performed using “artificial intelligence” and related terms in the “Title, Abstract, and Keywords”, focusing on tourism and hospitality journals indexed in Scopus. The identified documents were subjected to performance analysis and science mapping techniques. The search yielded 921 documents, comprising 882 articles and 39 reviews. The number of documents increased from 3 in 1987 to 277 in 2024. R. Law from the University of Macau was the most prolific author, while the Hong Kong Polytechnic University recorded the highest publication count. Chinese researchers produced the most documents, totaling 262 articles and reviews. A keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed four key themes: “machine learning and sentiment analysis of online reviews”, “adoption of AI including robots and ChatGPT in the hospitality industry”, “artificial neural networks for tourism management and demand analysis”, and “random forest models in travel”. Additionally, the study noted a shift in research focus from tourism demand forecasting and sentiment analysis to using service bots and applying artificial intelligence to enhance service quality, with a recent emphasis on generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Full article

Women’s entrepreneurship in the tourism industry plays a vital role in promoting economic growth, advancing gender equality, and encouraging innovation. Female entrepreneurs contribute to the diversification of tourism services, job generation, and the revitalization of local economies. This study employs data from the Web of Science database to examine research on tourism and female entrepreneurship over the past two decades. The primary goals are to explore emerging trends, publishing patterns, and the geographical regions most active in this area of research, as well as to identify the key journals, authors, and keywords shaping the field. The bibliometric analysis uncovers the progression of academic studies and highlights regions with significant research activity. While female entrepreneurship is a driving force for economic development and gender equity in tourism, persistent obstacles, such as limited research in certain areas and barriers to women’s participation, remain. This work underscores the increasing significance of women’s contributions to tourism and offers a framework for future studies and policies aimed at fostering gender equality and sustainable economic development. Full article

Innovation and sustainability have become dynamic tools to foster success in rural tourism. However, the effects of the two concepts in rural tourism have been largely overlooked. Hence, it seems timely to present a quantitative survey of the literature in these topics. Based on 94 articles published in the Scopus database, we found that innovation and sustainability in rural tourism is mostly a European concern, with the bulk of the articles published in the last ten years. China, Italy, and Spain are the main countries under analysis and the Sustainability Journal is the major outlet for dissemination of knowledge. This study can serve as a strategic guide for researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurs in the sector, supporting evidence-based decision-making. It has sought to understand the evolution of the existing literature on sustainable and innovative rural tourism; it has identified the most influential researchers and research centers that can promote future collaborations; and it has identified approaches and trends that are shaping the future of sustainable rural tourism. However, given the potential for innovation and sustainability towards rural tourism success, particularly in less developed and undeveloped countries, more research that ties all these three topics together is imperative. Full article

In the scientific literature on tourism, a set of variables is frequently utilized. The objective of this study is to analyze the scenario of scientific publications on these variables between 2000 and 2023. This analysis employs a bibliometric approach, utilizing data collected from the Scopus database. The bibliometric method was employed, with a focus on five variables (tourism destination, competitiveness, image, quality, and satisfaction) and five indicators (author, year, country, journal, and affiliation) essential for mapping research patterns and identifying key trends in the field of tourism. The findings demonstrate that the five variables under examination are inherently interrelated. The image of the destination is of particular importance, as it influences the quality of life of residents and the experiences of tourists, which in turn affects the competitiveness of the destination. The results also demonstrate the multidimensional nature of these variables in shaping tourism destination dynamics. This study underscores the value of bibliometric analysis as a strategic tool for synthesizing and deepening tourism literature. The findings not only highlight the primary research contributions and trends but also identify gaps and opportunities for future research, thereby promoting continuous advancement in tourism knowledge and best practices. Full article

Rural tourism, traditionally a niche sector, has gained significance due to changes in societal conditions, emerging as one of the most resilient forms of tourism. This article uses bibliometric analysis to explore the development and current trends in rural tourism research. Data were sourced from the Web of Science, yielding 1675 articles published between 1967 and 2023. Results reveal an average annual significant growth between 2008 and 2015, when 54.4% of all articles were published. Notable peaks include 142 publications in 2014 and a record 1230 citations in 2023, averaging 20.42 citations per article. Key contributions include identifying highly cited works, prolific authors, and leading institutions. Influential researchers such as Hall C. Michael, with 602 publications and an h-index of 67, and Carvalho Celia, a prominent European author, have shaped the field. The Universidad de Extremadura and the Chinese Academy of Sciences are among the top institutions, while journals like Sustainability and Tourism Management stand out for their influence. Six core research themes emerged: (a) the impact of rural tourism on agriculture and the environment, (b) the role of nature conservation and ecotourism in sustainable development, (c) ecological and sustainable approaches in biodiversity conservation, (d) biotechnological innovations in rural tourism, (e) demographic and social factors shaping outdoor recreation, and (f) the impact of rural tourism on sustainable development and community life. The study highlights the need for ongoing innovation to support sustainability goals and emphasizes the importance of understanding historical development and long-term trends in rural tourism research while offering insights into future research directions and practical applications. Full article

Complaint processing is of great importance for companies because it allows them to understand customer satisfaction levels, which is crucial for business success. It allows them to show the real perceptions of users and thus visualize the problems, which are regularly processed from oral or written natural language, derived from the provision of a service. In addition, the treatment of complaints is relevant because according to the laws of each country, companies have the obligation to respond to these complaints in a specified time. The specialized literature mentions that enterprises lost USD 75 billion due to poor customer service, highlighting that companies need to know and understand customer perceptions, especially emotions, and product reviews to gain insight and learn about customer feedback because of the importance of the voice of the customer for an organization. In general, it is evident that there is a need for research related to computational language processing to handle user requests. The authors show great interest in computational techniques for the processing of this information in natural language and how this could contribute to the improvement of processes within the productive sector. This work searches in indexed journals for information related to computational methods for processing relevant data from user complaints. It is proposed to apply a systematic literature review (SLR) method combining literature review guides by Kitchenham and the PRISMA statement. The systematic process allows the extraction of consistent information, and after applying it, 27 articles were obtained from which the analysis was conducted. The results show various proposals using linguistic, statistical, machine learning, and hybrid methods. We find that most authors combine Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to create hybrid methods. The methods extract relevant information from complaints of the customers in natural language in various domains, such as government, medical, banks, e-commerce, public services, agriculture, customer service, environmental, and tourism, among others. This work contributes as support for the creation of new systems that can give companies a significant competitive advantage due to their ability to reduce the response time of the complaints as established by law. Full article

Recreational activities are essential in the field of tourism as they improve the overall travel experience and offer chances for relaxation, adventure, cultural immersion, and personal development. However, the activities certainly generate an impact. This review-based study identified and synthesized 21 impact-based research papers in indexed journals from 2004 to 2022. The selected papers underwent four steps of an evidence-based systematic review. Content analysis was used to categorize impacts by theme. Additionally, bibliometric analysis was used to identify research trends. This study found that recreational activities affect the biotic environment of ecology by introducing invasive species, changing behavior and habitat, and reducing population density. The abiotic environment is also affected by soil compaction, degradation, littering, and water pollution. It was also found that management interventions are highly recommended for mitigating negative impacts. The major contribution of this study is that researchers, policymakers, and practitioners can gain valuable insights from the results as it offers a thorough synthesis of the impact of recreational activities, which may be put into immediate action to mitigate negative impacts. Full article

In recent years, Generation Z has had a pivotal influence across global industries, with tourism being significantly impacted. As the first generation fully immersed in digital technology, Generation Z members have travel preferences, behaviours, and values which differ markedly from previous generations, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the tourism sector. This study explores studies on Generation Z in the context of the tourism industry through key research questions, including the primary trends and thematic clusters in the existing literature, the most influential journals and authors, and the temporal evolution of research in this area. To address these questions, this article presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 217 publications on Generation Z and tourism, spanning from 2018 to 2024, sourced from the Web of Science. Using VOSviewer, the analysis maps the main trends, the most influential publications, and the emerging themes, providing insights into how Generation Z is reshaping the tourism landscape. The bibliometric analysis and VOSviewer mapping add a rigorous methodological approach, offering a structured overview of existing research while identifying gaps for further exploration, especially in this emerging field. The study highlights the most published and cited journals, providing a broad contextual view, followed by an in-depth exploration of thematic clusters within Generation Z tourism research. The results indicate that although research on this topic gained attention in 2018, it is still in its early stages, with significant room for expansion. Current studies primarily focus on social media marketing communications for Generation Z, as well as Generation Z tourism experiences and their attitudes and preferences towards tourism, suggesting areas for future exploration. Full article

The paper evaluates the benefits and challenges of employing humanoid robots in tourism and hospitality, examining their roles, decision-making processes, human-centric approaches, and oversight mechanisms. Data will be collected from a variety of sources, including academic journals, websites of the companies where the robots operate, case studies, and news articles. Specific attention will be given to concrete examples of humanoid robots deployed in the tourism and hospitality sector, such as Connie, Spencer, and Henn-na Hotel’s robots. Robots highlight the potential to assume roles traditionally occupied by humans. The presence of humanoid robots also influences cultural practices and social interactions within the hospitality context. Humanoid robots also have the potential to improve equity and accessibility in the tourism and hospitality industry. The interaction between humans and humanoid robots can have psychological and emotional effects on both guests and employees. Finally, the usage of humanoid robots intersects with broader sustainability operational efficiency and customer satisfaction across various sectors within the tourism and hospitality industry. Introducing humanoid robots represents a challenge in innovation that holds promise for revolutionizing service delivery and guest experiences. Full article

With rapid global sustainable growth and urbanization, green spaces—central to urban green infrastructure—provide essential ecosystem services that significantly enhance residents’ quality of life and well-being. This importance has grown even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the research on satisfaction with urban green spaces has become an essential topic for scholars in recent years. A systematic review could be helpful as research trends and effective optimization strategies are still unclear. To fill this gap, this study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 313 high-quality papers published on the Web of Science since 2001. The findings revealed: (1) Key journals and significant developments associated with this field of research, especially from China and the United States, emerging as the major contributors. (2) Keyword clustering analysis identified key themes, including public engagement, historic preservation, environmental justice, walkability, green space accessibility, and restorative environments. These findings emphasize the importance of data-driven and innovative planning strategies for enhancing residents’ well-being, tourism, and urban sustainability. (3) Research on satisfaction with urban green spaces has shifted from a singular to a more diversified focus, contributing to the optimization of urban green spaces through four main aspects: residents’ needs, ecological functions, management strategies, and research approaches. The conclusions offer strategies for researching the optimization of urban green spaces and provide valuable insights for residents, scholars, urban planners, and designers. Full article

In recent decades, the concept of well-being has often been the subject of psychological studies. The current study examines how tourism relates to well-being from the perspective of tourists/visitors, through the study of the older and more recent literature. Especially when it comes to the complex and multifaceted issue of well-being, in relation to the also complex and sensitive sectors of tourism, the specificity of this relationship is reflected in the evidence and the growing number of articles published in mainstream and reliable journals. By using the PRISMA framework, this article compares and evaluates published papers on the study of well-being and tourist behavior to guide and direct future research. It has been found that the relationship between well-being and tourism, especially after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been significantly strengthened. This study highlights the need to adopt a holistic approach that considers all the connections between well-being and tourism. Full article

Since ancient times, people have used salt for cooking and preserving food, its healing benefits, and as a means of payment. Therefore, the first settlements were located near water, food, and preferably salt, as prerequisites to further social and economic development. Naturally, the social development, the healing properties of salt, and the beauty of some salt landscapes have led to the development of tourism as an essential asset for rural communities. This paper aims to investigate the research focusing on the use of salt resources in tourism and to see if the exploitation of salt landscapes is an actual research topic linked to rural development. The study’s primary objectives are to investigate the scientific output in the tourism field, the main drivers in scientific production, and any connection between the importance of salt landscapes in tourism and sustainable rural development. The article represents a bibliometric analysis of 437 scientific articles published in prestigious journals indexed in the Web of Science until November 2023. The results emphasised a need for more research on using salt landscapes and resources in tourism as a central topic, as most identified studies focus on proposing models for the sustainable development of former salt mines and ecosystem restoration using tourism activity. Since many salt mining operations have been closed and the inhabitants of the neighbouring rural localities have been left without the related income, the results of this research are helpful for specialists in the field and for decision-makers to have a clear view of the development trends of areas rich in salt resources for tourism purposes. Full article

In the rapidly changing environment of the tourism business, building digital trust and rapport has appeared as a critical factor for sustaining profitable customer relationships and confirming long-term business survival. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research landscape with respect to digital trust and rapport establishment within the tourism context using techniques for bibliometric analysis in conjunction with visualization. This research paper explores publication trends, identifies key journals and authors, and determines the most productive countries, academic institutions, and primary research keywords. It involves analyzing publications from the Scopus database focusing on the duration between 2014 and 2023. The findings show that the digital trust and rapport-building literature expands its importance within the tourism industry due to factors such as competition pressure; customers’ high expectations; the incorporation of technology; and, most recently, the occurrence of pandemics like the COVID-19 pandemic. The US, in particular, can be identified as the most productive country in this research area. The International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management and the International Journal of Hospitality Management appear to be popular scientific publications on this topic. They present the following main research themes: customer engagement, employee conduct, and technology in the construction of trust. This study also underscores the practical role of the findings in successful endeavors within the field, detailing how cultural sensitivity, technological incorporation, and accessibility in service provision would contribute to building digital trust with international customers. Potential future research directions are proposed to advance the understanding of culture, technology, the effects of crises, and the application of other research methods. Full article