Theoretical Horizons of Conscious Tourism: A Bibliometric Exploration of Its Conceptual, Social, and Intellectual Structures

Abstract

[Abstract] This article explores conscious tourism through a bibliometric analysis, highlighting its evolution, main topics, and conceptual, social, and intellectual structures in academic literature. While sharing principles with sustainable and responsible tourism, it stands out for its explicit focus on individual and collective awareness in travel decisions, promoting environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and personal transformation. Conscious tourism fosters cultural respect, environmental preservation, and community well-being. The research analyzes 590 articles (1993–2023), from Web of Science and Scopus databases using Boolean searches for terms such as “conscious tourism,” “conscientious tourism,” and “sustainable tourism AND consumer,” with criteria limiting results to peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and conference papers in English, Spanish, or Portuguese explicitly addressing the topic. Findings show a marked growth in publications in the last decade, especially post-COVID-19, when sustainability in tourism gained prominence. Using the Bibliometrix R package, the study identifies key research themes, the most influential academic journals in this field, leading authors, and academic institutions. The thematic analysis reveals four main clusters: (1) sustainability-oriented tourism development, including links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals; (2) consumer behavior and decision-making models in tourism; (3) community-based and cultural heritage tourism; and (4) post-pandemic recovery strategies and resilience in tourism systems. This analysis clarifies the emerging theoretical framework surrounding conscious tourism and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals, providing a foundation for further study and potential applications in public policies for sustainable tourism. Finally, some research limitations are detailed and lines for future research are suggested.