Mapping Innovation and Sustainability in Rural Tourism: A Bibliometric Approach

Innovation and sustainability have become dynamic tools to foster success in rural tourism. However, the effects of the two concepts in rural tourism have been largely overlooked. Hence, it seems timely to present a quantitative survey of the literature in these topics. Based on 94 articles published in the Scopus database, we found that innovation and sustainability in rural tourism is mostly a European concern, with the bulk of the articles published in the last ten years. China, Italy, and Spain are the main countries under analysis and the Sustainability Journal is the major outlet for dissemination of knowledge. This study can serve as a strategic guide for researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurs in the sector, supporting evidence-based decision-making. It has sought to understand the evolution of the existing literature on sustainable and innovative rural tourism; it has identified the most influential researchers and research centers that can promote future collaborations; and it has identified approaches and trends that are shaping the future of sustainable rural tourism. However, given the potential for innovation and sustainability towards rural tourism success, particularly in less developed and undeveloped countries, more research that ties all these three topics together is imperative.