Sport event research in the hospitality and tourism industry: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study examines the international literature on sports events published between 1981 and 2024 within the framework of specific parameters. Design/methodology/approach The data were analyzed using quantitative and bibliometric analyses. Studies related to sports events were scanned through the Scopus database, and 1,072 studies were evaluated. Findings It has been revealed that the highest number of studies related to sports events were published in 2021, with Tichaawa, T.M. being the author with the most publications. Griffith University conducted the most studies on this topic, and the United States had the highest number of publications. Additionally, the findings indicate that the number of studies on sports events is increasing, with more studies being conducted in business and social sciences. Regarding keyword usage frequency, the studies focus on destination image, economic impact, and sustainability. Clustering analysis results show that the studies are divided into four clusters, focusing on sports, tourism, and tourism development. Research limitations/implications Due to methodological limitations, the results of bibliometric analysis generally focus on metrics related to articles, sources, and authors. Another limitation is the examination of studies in the context of tourism that are published in the international literature and accessible only through the Scopus database in English. An additional limitation is that the publications analyzed in this study are specifically on sports events. This study aims to fill a gap in the field by examining sports event studies in the international literature, thereby providing researchers with a holistic perspective. It is considered significant as it will offer a different viewpoint on bibliometric studies related to sports events and sports tourism in the international literature, both in terms of the parameters used in the study and the study’s focus. Originality/value It is believed to be important because it is the first bibliometric study explicitly conducted on sports events.