The Impact of Recreational Activities on Ecology: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Sazu Sardar and Md. Mazharul Islam ()
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Sazu Sardar: Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
Md. Mazharul Islam: Research and Planning Division, Bangladesh Tourism Board, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Recreational activities are essential in the field of tourism as they improve the overall travel experience and offer chances for relaxation, adventure, cultural immersion, and personal development. However, the activities certainly generate an impact. This review-based study identified and synthesized 21 impact-based research papers in indexed journals from 2004 to 2022. The selected papers underwent four steps of an evidence-based systematic review. Content analysis was used to categorize impacts by theme. Additionally, bibliometric analysis was used to identify research trends. This study found that recreational activities affect the biotic environment of ecology by introducing invasive species, changing behavior and habitat, and reducing population density. The abiotic environment is also affected by soil compaction, degradation, littering, and water pollution. It was also found that management interventions are highly recommended for mitigating negative impacts. The major contribution of this study is that researchers, policymakers, and practitioners can gain valuable insights from the results as it offers a thorough synthesis of the impact of recreational activities, which may be put into immediate action to mitigate negative impacts.

Keywords: impact; recreation; ecology; tourism; systematic literature review (SLR); bibliometric analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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