Rural Tourism in the Context of Climate Change: A Critical Mapping of the Knowledge Landscape

ABSTRACT The research provides a comprehensive understanding of prior studies on rural tourism and climate change. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis ( n = 763 documents) and a systematic literature review using the TCCM framework ( n = 128 documents), drawing on journal articles collected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The research highlights a significant increase in publications and dominant themes over the past decades, focusing on climate adaptation, resilience, community perceptions, and sustainability. The research also reveals a significant proportion of atheoretical studies and a notable imbalance in geographical distribution, emphasizing the urgent need to integrate theories in studies and engage researchers and institutions from the Global South to underscore the complexities of rural tourism in the context of climate change. Additionally, the research discusses management successes, failures, and challenges encountered in cross‐border contexts. These include coordination issues, limited technical and financial support, and differing perceptions. This review contributes to understanding the complex interconnections between climate change and rural tourism, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated actions and adaptive strategies. It offers guidance to researchers and industry stakeholders on developing climate‐responsive, sustainable rural tourism practices.