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Ecotourism Research Progress: A Bibliometric Analysis During 1990–2016

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  • Shaoai Liu
  • Wan-Yi Li

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate research trends of ecotourism, which has attracted wide attention by both researchers and policymakers as an important way to realize sustainable tourism. Bibliometric analysis was carried through the 2,531 records related to ecotourism searching from Science Citation Index (SCI), Social Science Citation Index (SSCI), Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI), and Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP) databases from 1990 to 2016. A total of 4,138 keywords were divided into three categories: topical keywords, case-related keywords, and research methods–related keywords. They, respectively, were analyzed on overall development as well as the dynamic changes by three divided stages of ecotourism research. The results showed that Tourism Management was the most prolific journal. U.S.-based authors published more often than those from any other country, whereas among research institutions, the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most prolific contributor. It also revealed that conservation was the key focus, protected area was the main study object, and sustainable tourism was the main aim. The top three countries for cases study were China, the United States, and South Africa, and the main methodologies were contingent valuation method and geographic information system. According to the dynamic analysis, research perspectives changed from ecotourism resources to management and subsequently expanded to multistakeholders involvement, with a rapid expansion of the case and implementation of quantitative research methods. With multidisciplinary involvement and multistakeholders participation, the study of tourist awareness and behavior on ecotourism would become the main aspects for deepening and concreting ecotourism research. Our findings provide a quantitative understanding of global ecotourism research features.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaoai Liu & Wan-Yi Li, 2020. "Ecotourism Research Progress: A Bibliometric Analysis During 1990–2016," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:10:y:2020:i:2:p:2158244020924052
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244020924052
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lee, Choong-Ki & W. Mjelde, James, 2007. "Valuation of ecotourism resources using a contingent valuation method: The case of the Korean DMZ," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2-3), pages 511-520, August.
    2. Wan-Jiun Chen & Shyue-Cherng Liaw, 2012. "What is the Value of Eco-Tourism? An Evaluation of Forested Trails for Community Residents and Visitors," Tourism Economics, , vol. 18(4), pages 871-885, August.
    3. Yinian Gu, 2004. "Information management or knowledge management? An informetric view of the dynamics of Academia," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 61(3), pages 285-299, November.
    4. Schubert, András & Glänzel, Wolfgang, 2007. "A systematic analysis of Hirsch-type indices for journals," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 1(3), pages 179-184.
    5. repec:srs:journl:jemt:v:3:y:2012:i:1:p:26-40 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Hannarong SHAMSUB & Louis LEBEL, 2012. "Identifying Tourists With Sustainable Behaviour A Study Of International Tourists To Thailand," Journal of Advanced Research in Management, ASERS Publishing, vol. 3(1), pages 26-40.
    7. So-Yeon Park & Seul-Ye Lim & Seung-Hoon Yoo, 2016. "The Economic Value of the National Meteorological Service in the Korean Household Sector: A Contingent Valuation Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-13, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhe Zhang & Jianxiong Qin & Li Luo & Yaxin Feng, 2022. "Research on the Evaluation of Coordinated Development of Tourism–Economy–Ecological Environment along the Silk Road Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-26, October.
    2. Lei Yang & Dongbo Xu & Shuai Yuan, 2025. "The Progress of Ecotourism Research in China: Identifying Key Areas, Highlights, and Trends Through Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Prakoso Havidz Ageng & Syahputri Gusti C. A. & Roziqin Ali & Syaprin Zahidi M., 2023. "Research trajectory on tourism policy: a bibliometric overview," European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Sciendo, vol. 13(1), pages 56-66, December.
    4. Ana León-Gómez & Jorge Alexander Mora Forero & Jose Manuel Santos-Jaén, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainability Education in Tourism Universities," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.

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