Sustainability indicators for tourism destinations: bibliometric analysis and proposed research agenda

This study aims to provide various maps of the evolution, current situation and future lines of sustainability indicators for tourism destinations research. The bibliographic analysis of 440 papers (after refinement) published from 1995 to 2021 reveal the existence of three stages over time and an enormous increase during the last eight years. The results suggest the multidisciplinary nature of the subject that has developed from environmental and social areas to scientific and technological areas, and the existence of seven clusters around the knowledge base. The key research topics have evolved from an essentially instrumental approach to the applicability of developments to management and specific perspectives. The seven following topics merit further research: (1) proposals for different types of destination, (2) indicators construction methodologies, (3) fulfilment of SDGs, (4) development of international frameworks, (5) role of host communities, (6) interactions between stakeholders and (7) focus to climate change effect.

Automated summary

This study presents various maps of the evolution, current situation and future directions of sustainability indicators for tourism destinations research, showing a multidisciplinary nature and focus on topics such as climate change.