Rural Tourism and Land Use: Unveiling Global Research Trends, Gaps, and Future Pathways

Kibru Alemu Gedecho, Abdi Shukri Yasin (), Bernadett Horváthné Kovács and Zsuzsanna Bacsi
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Kibru Alemu Gedecho: Doctoral School of Economics and Regional Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Abdi Shukri Yasin: Doctoral School of Economics and Regional Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Bernadett Horváthné Kovács: Institute of Rural Development and Sustainable Economy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary
Zsuzsanna Bacsi: Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 8360 Keszthely, Hungary

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-24

Abstract: Rural tourism influences rural communities, yet its growth often leads to substantial land use changes, creating both opportunities and tensions. Despite this, a comprehensive overview of the literature examining their intersection is absent. To address this gap, this study employed a bibliometric analysis of 497 documents from the Web of Science database spanning 1994 to 2025. Methods included major publication trend analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and co-citation analysis to uncover publication trends, dominant themes, and intellectual structure. Results indicate a rapidly expanding, interdisciplinary field characterized by strong international collaboration and a focus on sustainability, environmental planning, and integrated land management. Key thematic clusters include geospatial tools, environmental stewardship, urbanization impacts, social dimensions, and economic assessment of rural landscapes. The intellectual foundations are rooted in spatial planning, ecosystem services, socio-economic impacts, and ecotourism’s conservation goals. Gaps identified include lack of synthesis studies, underrepresentation of qualitative methods, insufficient policy-implementation research, and underrepresentation of European and intra-Global South collaborations. The study calls for future works to address these gaps through interdisciplinary approaches, longitudinal monitoring, and expanded regional collaborations. By mapping the field’s evolution, this study provides a foundational reference for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to balance tourism development with sustainable land use in rural areas.

Keywords: rural tourism; land use change; bibliometric analysis; sustainable development; ecosystem services; spatial planning; tourism impacts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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