Music in cultural tourism: insights from a dual approach of scoping review and bibliometric analysis

This study examines the relationship between music and cultural tourism using a dual approach: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis. It explores music’s role in cultural preservation, economic development, tourist motivations, and the integration of digital technologies, highlighting key trends, challenges, and opportunities. Peer-reviewed journal articles from the Scopus database were reviewed, and bibliometric analysis was applied to evaluate the studies’ impact and identify recurring themes, including cultural preservation, tourist behavior, and technological innovations. The findings reveal that music tourism significantly contributes to cultural preservation, regional identity, and economic growth. However, challenges such as the commodification of heritage, ethical representation of marginalized communities, and unequal access to digital technologies remain underexplored. The study underscores the transformative potential of augmented and virtual reality in music tourism while emphasizing the need for inclusive strategies to ensure authenticity and sustainability. This research is limited to Scopus-indexed articles, with partial bibliometric analysis applied to uncover key themes. Future studies should expand database coverage, utilize advanced bibliometric tools, and examine the long-term effects of digital innovations on music tourism. By integrating scoping and bibliometric methods, this study offers a nuanced understanding of the interplay between music and cultural tourism, identifies critical gaps, and provides actionable insights for advancing sustainable and inclusive practices in the field.