What are the intellectual foundations and thematic structures shaping flow experience research in tourism?

This study addresses the fragmented state of research on flow experience in the tourism sector, an increasingly important concept in the modern experience economy. The main objective was to systematize and map the intellectual structure, development, and future trajectory of this field. Applying a hybrid bibliometric-systematic literature review method, the paper analyzed 118 articles from the Scopus database (2011-2025) using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix. The study's conclusions were further reinforced and validated through a comparative analysis with data extracted from the Web of Science database. Key findings revealed two distinct research phases, with a significant boom after 2020 driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of virtual reality (VR) tourism. Thematic analysis revealed a clear knowledge structure, with basic themes serving as the theoretical basis, while motor themes (authenticity and tourism live streaming) drove the current research. This landscape was divided into a psychological core, focused on exploring the nature of the experience, and a managerial core, centered on applying the flow experience for strategic goals. This study contributes a new conceptual framework that organizes the research field into antecedents, flow state, and outcomes, while also providing practical guidance for managers to design engaging experiences.