Urban Regeneration and Heritage Tourism: A Bibliometric Analysis Over Three Decades

This paper conducts a bibliometric analysis of urban regeneration and heritage tourism research to uncover key trends, influential studies, and collaborative networks over the past three decades. Using a dataset of 101 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and following PRISMA guidelines, the study applies citation analysis, co-authorship mapping, and keyword co-occurrence through the Bibliometrix R package to visualize thematic clusters and research dynamics. Five central research clusters emerged: Heritage Tourism and Urban Development, Cultural Influence and Project Management, Regeneration and Sustainability, Redevelopment and Gentrification, and Local Participation. Findings highlight a growing focus on sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and the balance of tourism-driven economic growth with cultural preservation, though largely from Western perspectives. The study emphasizes a need for longitudinal, data-driven research, particularly in underrepresented regions, to fully address heritage tourism’s socio-economic and cultural impacts on urban regeneration. This analysis provides a structured roadmap for future research, offering valuable insights for scholars and policymakers aiming for sustainable urban transformation.