Tourism 4.0 Research: A Bibliometric Study and Future Outlook

Through an analysis of 128 papers from the Web of Science database, this bibliometric study investigates the evolving field of Tourism 4.0 research. The Vosviewer was used to analyse publishing trends, key topics, and major players from the start of the discipline until 2024. The findings indicate a substantial increase in research production and citations, with 2020 emerging as a particularly notable peak year. Most cited journals, top cited countries and university-industry collaborations were also analysed. Co-word analysis identified key research themes, such as Tourism 4.0, Industry 4.0, Digital Transformation, and Sustainable Tourism, highlighting the technological advancements shaping tourism. Despite the field's remarkable growth, several research gaps persist. Studies on the practical applications of novel technologies in the travel industry are limited, there is a lack of integration between sustainable tourism and Tourism 4.0, and the socioeconomic implications of technology are not adequately explored. This study underscores the urgent need for further empirical research to explore the practical applications of cutting-edge technologies in the travel industry and highlights emerging areas that could gain more attention in future research.