Sociology and Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review

This study examines how tourism sociology research has evolved, provides a summary of the pertinent field, and potential directions of interest for future research. To identify key turning points in the history of tourism sociology, such as phases of development, theories, techniques, premises, and outcomes, a systematic literature review was conducted. Using several keywords, the Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched on February 16, 2024, yielding 799 articles. With consideration of the PRISMA methodology, the research analysis process involved 19 scientific papers. The results show that mass and authenticity were the primary concerns of the initial sociological approaches to tourism. Furthermore, the field has progressed significantly because of phenomena such as tourist typologies and the tourist gaze. However, most researchers appear to be preoccupied with debates over the evolution of tourism theory, whether tourism is a discipline, and the need for scientific methodologies. Therefore, to advance the field and set itself apart from other academic specialties, tourism academics must resolve a few common problems.