Charting the Future Trajectory of Sustainable Tourism Research in Africa

Abstract

This study offers a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of sustainable tourism research in Africa from 2003 to 2023, utilizing data from Scopus. It aims to identify leading journals, countries, institutions, and authors in the field, as well as to analyze research trends and themes. The methodology includes evaluating document count, citation score, and publication trends, supplemented by thematic analysis via VOSviewer. Key findings indicate that South Africa leads in research output with around 930 publications, followed by Egypt and Nigeria. The University of Johannesburg is highlighted as the foremost institution, marked by a high citation count (40,693). Prominent authors like C.M. Rogerson and C.M. Hall are noted for their contributions. The research predominantly encompasses Social Sciences, Business, and Management, with a notable fluctuation in publication numbers, including a decrease in 2018. The study uncovers five main clusters that define the focus of sustainable tourism research. This extensive 20-year analysis provides valuable insights into the geographic and institutional spread of research, thematic trends, and the evolution of research interests. The findings are pivotal for academics, policymakers, and practitioners in grasping the current landscape and future trajectory of sustainable tourism research in Africa, highlighting its multidisciplinary nature and global relevance.

Keywords

• tourism sustainability
• africa
• bibliometric analysis
• vosviewer
• eco-tourism