Analysis of Paradigmatic Developments in Tourism Governance: A Comparative Study of 2000-2015 and 2016-2025 Periods

Authors
1 Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Tarbiat Modares University
2 tarbiat modares university
Abstract
Tourism governance, as an emerging paradigm in destination management, plays a pivotal role in addressing complex challenges within the tourism industry. This study aims to map comprehensive conceptual, structural, and thematic developments in tourism governance while identifying future research trajectories. A bibliometric approach was employed, analyzing 892 scientific articles extracted from the Scopus database (2000-2025). Data were divided into two temporal periods (2000-2015 and 2016-2025) and analyzed using VOSviewer software. The analysis revealed a ninefold increase in tourism governance concept frequency and expansion of thematic clusters from 5 to 8 clusters. Emerging governance types including participatory, environmental, and multilevel governance were identified. Conceptual integration with contemporary challenges, particularly overtourism and smart tourism, demonstrates this field's responsiveness to emerging issues. International collaboration networks revealed center-periphery patterns concentrated in five leading countries. The Journal of Sustainable Tourism emerged as the core publication hub with highest centrality and connection density. Findings indicate paradigmatic evolution of tourism governance from a dependent concept to an independent field with mature theoretical frameworks and diverse typologies, reflecting the necessity of transitioning from traditional hierarchical approaches to participatory, adaptive, and context-specific models.

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Available Online from 16 September 2025