IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v34y2026is1p964-981.html

Theoretical Horizons of Conscious Tourism: A Bibliometric Exploration of Its Conceptual, Social, and Intellectual Structures

Author

Listed:
  • Jakson Renner Rodrigues Soares
  • Raquel Santiago Romo
  • María Paula Lechuga Sancho
  • María Francisca Casado Claro
  • Anderson Gomes de Souza

Abstract

This article explores conscious tourism through a bibliometric analysis, highlighting its evolution, main topics, and conceptual, social, and intellectual structures in academic literature. While sharing principles with sustainable and responsible tourism, it stands out for its explicit focus on individual and collective awareness in travel decisions, promoting environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and personal transformation. Conscious tourism fosters cultural respect, environmental preservation, and community well‐being. The research analyzes 590 articles (1993–2023), from Web of Science and Scopus databases using Boolean searches for terms such as “conscious tourism,” “conscientious tourism,” and “sustainable tourism AND consumer,” with criteria limiting results to peer‐reviewed articles, reviews, and conference papers in English, Spanish, or Portuguese explicitly addressing the topic. Findings show a marked growth in publications in the last decade, especially post‐COVID‐19, when sustainability in tourism gained prominence. Using the Bibliometrix R package, the study identifies key research themes, the most influential academic journals in this field, leading authors, and academic institutions. The thematic analysis reveals four main clusters: (1) sustainability‐oriented tourism development, including links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals; (2) consumer behavior and decision‐making models in tourism; (3) community‐based and cultural heritage tourism; and (4) post‐pandemic recovery strategies and resilience in tourism systems. This analysis clarifies the emerging theoretical framework surrounding conscious tourism and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals, providing a foundation for further study and potential applications in public policies for sustainable tourism. Finally, some research limitations are detailed and lines for future research are suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • Jakson Renner Rodrigues Soares & Raquel Santiago Romo & María Paula Lechuga Sancho & María Francisca Casado Claro & Anderson Gomes de Souza, 2026. "Theoretical Horizons of Conscious Tourism: A Bibliometric Exploration of Its Conceptual, Social, and Intellectual Structures," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S1), pages 964-981, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s1:p:964-981
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70203
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70203
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.70203?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mehraj Din Wani & Zubair Ahmad Dada & Waseem Ahmad Bhat & Shamim Ahmad Shah, 2025. "Community-driven ecotourism in the trans Himalayan region: A sustainable model for cultural and environmental preservation," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(4), pages 560-582, July.
    2. Sanjana Mondal & Kaushik Samaddar, 2021. "Responsible tourism towards sustainable development: literature review and research agenda," Asia Pacific Business Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(2), pages 229-266, March.
    3. Vivien Iacob & Saúl Neves Jesus & Cláudia Carmo, 2024. "An overview of mindfulness theories applied to tourism: systematic review update and bibliometric analysis," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(3), pages 2213-2235, June.
    4. Hares, Andrew & Dickinson, Janet & Wilkes, Keith, 2010. "Climate change and the air travel decisions of UK tourists," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 466-473.
    5. Mehraj Din Wani & Nusrat Batool & Zubair Ahmad Dada & Shamim Ahmad Shah, 2024. "Investigating the impact of community-based tourism on the residents’ quality of life and their support for tourism," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(1), pages 138-159, January.
    6. Margaret M. Willis & Juliet B. Schor, 2012. "Does Changing a Light Bulb Lead to Changing the World? Political Action and the Conscious Consumer," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 644(1), pages 160-190, November.
    7. Lina Pilelienė & Viktorija Grigaliūnaitė & Yuliya Bogoyavlenska, 2024. "A Bibliometric Review of Innovations in Sustainable Tourism Research: Current Trends and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-28, August.
    8. Esra Şahin & Vedat Yiğitoğlu & Zuhal Gök Demir & Çiğdem Karakaya & Fulya Erendağ Sümer & Beysun Güneri, 2024. "Circular Economy for Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis for the Tourism/Hospitality Field," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-20, July.
    9. Recep Murat Geçikli & Orhan Turan & Lenka Lachytová & Erkan Dağlı & Murad Alpaslan Kasalak & Sinem Burcu Uğur & Yigit Guven, 2024. "Cultural Heritage Tourism and Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-16, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kok Wai Cheng & Jing Yi Yong & Woon Leong Lin & Mohd Yusoff Yusliza, 2026. "Sustainable consumption in hospitality: the nexus between circular economy, strategic orientation, and economic resilience—a bibliometric analysis," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    2. Filimonau, Viachaslau & Högström, Michaela, 2017. "The attitudes of UK tourists to the use of biofuels in civil aviation: An exploratory study," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 84-94.
    3. Kyriakos Lampropoulos & Anastasia Vythoulka & George Petrakos & Vasiliki (Betty) Charalampopoulou & Anastasia A. Kioussi & Antonia Moropoulou, 2025. "Sustainable Development of Central and Northern Euboea (Evia) Through the Protection and Revealing of the Area’s Cultural and Environmental Reserve," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-28, July.
    4. Andrea Amado & Koji Kotani & Makoto Kakinaka & Shunsuke Managi, 2023. "Carbon tax for cleaner-energy transition: A vignette experiment in Japan," Working Papers SDES-2023-6, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised Oct 2023.
    5. Chandra Mahapatra, Subas & Bellamkonda, Raja Shekhar, 2023. "Higher expectations of passengers do really sense: Development and validation a multiple scale-FliQual for air transport service quality," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    6. Ghislain Dubois & Jean-Paul Ceron & Stefan Gössling & C. Michael Hall, 2016. "Weather preferences of French tourists: lessons for climate change impact assessment," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 339-351, May.
    7. Merith Ifeoma Anaba & Muhammad Mehedi Masud & Goh Hong Ching, 2024. "The role of social identity between community motivation and intention to participate in tourism development in Malaysia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(9), pages 22929-22952, September.
    8. You-Yu Dai & An-Jin Shie & Jin-Hua Chu & Yen-Chun Jim Wu, 2022. "Low-Carbon Travel Motivation and Constraint: Scales Development and Validation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-25, April.
    9. Wenting Cheng & Chaoying Niu & Liang Huang & Yuyao Zhang, 2025. "Design Strategies for Culinary Heritage Restaurants from a Cultural Sustainability Perspective: Focusing on Generation Z Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-28, April.
    10. Rosa Rodrigues & João Caldeira Heitor & Helena Pimentel & Tiago Lopes, 2025. "Relationship Between Preservation of Built Cultural Heritage and Economic Development in Lisbon and Porto: Cultural Legacy and Urban Revitalization as Serial Mediation Mechanisms," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-14, May.
    11. Dalia Perkumienė & Rasa Pranskūnienė & Milita Vienažindienė & Jurgita Grigienė, 2020. "The Right to A Clean Environment: Considering Green Logistics and Sustainable Tourism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-23, May.
    12. Sara Fiorentino & Mariangela Vandini, 2024. "Resilience and Sustainable Territorial Development: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage at Risk for Promoting Awareness and Cohesiveness Among Next-Generation Society," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-15, December.
    13. Ittamalla, Rajesh & Srinivas Kumar, Daruri Venkata, 2021. "Determinants of holistic passenger experience in public transportation: Scale development and validation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    14. Marek Jóźwiak, 2025. "Managing Consumer Attention to Sustainability Cues in Tourism Advertising: Insights from Eye-Tracking Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-20, September.
    15. Pinky Kumawat & Cristina Pronello, 2021. "Validating Italian General Ecological Behaviour Questionnaire of Travellers Using Dichotomous Rasch Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, October.
    16. Bruderer Enzler, Heidi, 2017. "Air travel for private purposes. An analysis of airport access, income and environmental concern in Switzerland," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1-8.
    17. Jiahui Li & Yu Yang & Yuqi Ye, 2025. "Rural Tourism, Economic Growth, and Environmental Sustainability: Empirical Evidence Based on County-Level Data in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-32, October.
    18. Gössling, Stefan, 2019. "Celebrities, air travel, and social norms," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    19. Gössling, Stefan & Cohen, Scott, 2014. "Why sustainable transport policies will fail: EU climate policy in the light of transport taboos," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 197-207.
    20. Melissa Nursey-Bray & Robert Palmer & Bridie Meyer-Mclean & Thomas Wanner & Cris Birzer, 2019. "The Fear of Not Flying: Achieving Sustainable Academic Plane Travel in Higher Education Based on Insights from South Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s1:p:964-981. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.