Socio-economic Impacts of Tourism (2000–2024): A Bibliometric and Systematic Review of Global Research Trends

Abstract

This study investigates the socio-economic impacts of tourism through an integrated bibliometric and systematic review approach. Using the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database, 283 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024 were identified and analyzed. Bibliometric mapping was conducted using VOSviewer and R Studio to examine co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and publication trends over time. The analysis reveals substantial growth in research on tourism’s socio-economic implications during the past two decades, reflecting increasing international collaboration and expanding multidisciplinary engagement. The systematic review identifies key thematic areas, including employment generation, income creation, entrepreneurship development, and infrastructure improvement. At the same time, the literature also identifies challenges such as economic leakage, income inequality, seasonal employment instability, and cultural commodification. The findings indicate a growing scholarly emphasis on sustainability, governance, and climate change, with significant research contributions emerging from countries such as China, the United States, and Australia. By combining quantitative bibliometric mapping with qualitative thematic synthesis, this study provides a structured overview of the intellectual evolution of tourism impact research. It identifies major research clusters, geographic patterns, and emerging themes, while also indicating gaps in distributional analysis and equity-focused evaluation. The results offer valuable insights for scholars and policymakers seeking to advance inclusive, sustainable, and context-sensitive tourism development strategies in an increasingly dynamic global environment.