Science Mapping the Themes and Trends of Social Inclusion and Tourism: A SciMAT Bibliometric Study

Fatemeh Azizi

doi:10.32890/ijms2026.33.1.3

Authors

Fatemeh Azizi Department of Management Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran, Islamic Republic of

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/ijms2026.33.1.3

Keywords:

Social inclusion, tourism, bibliometric analysis, analysis of science mapping, SciMAT

Abstract

The significance of social inclusion for achieving sustainable development goals in tourism is widely recognized. However, there is a lack of bibliometric analysis of the scientific evidence in this domain. This study used the SciMAT bibliometric analysis software to examine 145 publications from 2001 to 2023. It has identified dominant themes and their evolution over time, creating strategic diagrams and performance indicators for various periods. The results showed that the research in this field has expanded beyond the limited aspects related to social inclusion, encompassing more advanced subjects such as disability, ecotourism, and tourism development. This study provides a comprehensive review of the existing literature on social inclusion and tourism research and predicts how this field will evolve in the future. It aims to contribute to the knowledge base by identifying common themes and gaps in the research domain, developing new research themes, and suggesting areas for further investigation.

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