A Review of Research on Inclusive Tourism: Clusters of Thematic Links and Research Gaps

Karolina Korbiel (), Katarzyna Gmyrek and Zygmunt Kruczek
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Karolina Korbiel: Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Physical Culture, 31-571 Kraków, Poland
Katarzyna Gmyrek: Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Physical Culture, 31-571 Kraków, Poland
Zygmunt Kruczek: Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Physical Culture, 31-571 Kraków, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-23

Abstract: The aim of the study is to identify research on inclusive tourism and its links with related research directions. For this purpose, a review of the literature available in the Scopus database was carried out using the VOSviewer bibliometric tool. The analysis included titles and abstracts of a selected group of articles that were assessed directly by the researchers. This process enabled the identification and characterisation of thematic clusters reflecting the most frequently undertaken research issues, and also allowed for the indication of research gaps and changes occurring over time. The results of the analysis are presented in the form of graphs and tables. In the discussion and final conclusions, significant connections of inclusive tourism are indicated. Although inclusiveness is an important objective of sustainable development, these terms were clearly linked in scientific research only in 2002, and since 2020, there has been a noticeable increase in these connections. The vast majority of studies are focused on the needs of people with mobility disabilities and seniors, but it has been noted that research is beginning to increasingly pay attention to other groups of individuals with special needs as well as the inclusion of marginalised social groups in tourism planning.

Keywords: inclusive tourism; sustainable tourism; bibliometric analysis; authors’ keywords; clusters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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