Scientific Mapping of Gender in Sustainable Tourism Research: A Bibliometric Approach

Abstract

The intersection of gender and sustainability in tourism research has gained significant attention across academic research and policymaking, focusing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are closely aligned with the United Nations SDGs, particularly gender equality (SDG 5) and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). Gender plays an important role in driving sustainable transformation in the tourism sector, influencing cultural and environmental conservation and socioeconomic aspects. This chapter discusses a bibliometric analysis of articles focusing on gender and sustain-ability in tourism research to elucidate publication trends, identify influential journals and prominent authors, and uncover key research themes and emerging hotspots of research trends. The Bibliometrix R package was employed to analyze 438 research articles selected from the Scopus database between the period 2015 and 2024. The findings indicated an increasing trend in publications, with a wide distribution of publications across numerous journals. Further, the Journal of Sustainable Tourism was the most influen-tial, and countries like Spain, China, and the United States have made noteworthy contributions in the area. India ranks the highest in single-country publications (SCP), indicating a notable emphasis on region-specific research. Meanwhile, the United States and China lead in the multiple-country publications (MCP), indicating higher international collaborative research efforts. Furthermore, the findings emphasize that gender-inclusive policies are essential to fostering innovation, advancing leadership roles, and promoting corporate sustainability and entrepreneur-ship within the tourism sector. Finally, gender-specific strategies are imper-ative for achieving sustainable transport and driving socioeconomic transformation, highlighting the need for tailored gender-sensitive strategies for sustainable tourism development. © 2026 Dhishna Pannikot. All rights reserved.