Mapping Music Tourism Research Agenda via Bibliometrics (1993-2024)
Keywords:
Music Tourism, Tourist Behavior, Experience, Cultural TourismAbstract
Music tourism has received significant academic attention. This study analyzed 549 publications on music tourism from 1993 to 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database, employing bibliometric methods to comprehensively explore research trends and key thematic focuses. The results reveal a growing body of research on music tourism; however, the overall volume remains relatively modest. Through keyword analysis, core research directions were identified, including music festival tourism, cultural heritage preservation, tourist behavior and experience, and the interaction between music and local culture. Recent studies have increasingly focused on the economic and cultural impacts of music festivals, innovations in tourist experience design, and the role of music tourism in shaping local cultural identity. Moreover, the growing interdisciplinary integration of music tourism with fields such as digital technology and sustainability highlights its expanding academic and practical significance.By constructing a knowledge map of music tourism, this study provides a systematic framework for understanding the evolution of the field. It also offers theoretical insights and practical implications to guide future research and applications.
References
Adamış, E., & Pınarbaşı, F. (2022). Unfolding visual characteristics of social media communication: reflections of smart tourism destinations. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 13(1), 34-61. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-09-2020-0246
Alatawi, I. A., Ntim, C. G., Zras, A., & Elmagrhi, M. H. (2023). CSR, financial and non-financial performance in the tourism sector: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. International Review of Financial Analysis, 89, 102734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2023.102734
Awan, U. (2021). Steering for Sustainable Development Goals: A Typology of Sustainable Innovation. In W. Leal Filho, A. M. Azul, L. Brandli, A. Lange Salvia, & T. Wall (Eds.), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (pp. 1026-1036). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95873-6_64
Brown, A. E., & Pappas, N. (2023). Added value and music events: a festivalgoer perspective. Annals of Leisure Research, 26(1), 117-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2021.1878378
Buhalis, D., Leung, X. Y., Fan, D., Darcy, S., Chen, G., Xu, F., Wei-Han Tan, G., Nunkoo, R., & Farmaki, A. (2023). Editorial: Tourism 2030 and the contribution to the sustainable development goals: the tourism review viewpoint. Tourism Review, 78(2), 293-313. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-04-2023-620
Dwyer, L. (2023). Tourism development and sustainable well-being: a Beyond GDP perspective. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(10), 2399-2416. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1825457
El Faouri, B. F., & Sibley, M. (2024). Balancing social and cultural priorities in the UN 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs) for UNESCO world heritage cities. Sustainability, 16(14), 5833. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16145833
Hussain, A., Mandić, A., & Fusté-Forné, F. (2024). Transforming communities: Analyzing the effects of infrastructure and tourism development on social capital, livelihoods, and resilience in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 59, 276-295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2024.04.017
Hussain, S., Ahonen, V., Karasu, T., & Leviäkangas, P. (2023). Sustainability of smart rural mobility and tourism: A key performance indicators-based approach. Technology in Society, 74, 102287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102287
Leong, A. M. W., Yeh, S.-S., Zhou, Y., Hung, C.-W., & Huan, T.-C. (2024). Exploring the influence of historical storytelling on cultural heritage tourists' value co-creation using tour guide interaction and authentic place as mediators. Tourism Management Perspectives, 50, 101198. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2023.101198
Li, J., Zheng, X., Watanabe, I., & Ochiai, Y. (2024). A systematic review of digital transformation technologies in museum exhibition. Computers in Human Behavior, 161, 108407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108407
Li, S., Li, S., Nang Fong, L. H., & Li, Y. (2025). When intangible cultural heritage meets modernization–Can Chinese opera with modernized elements attract young festival-goers? Tourism Management, 107, 105036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2024.105036
Li, X., Abbas, J., Dongling, W., Baig, N. U. A., & Zhang, R. (2022). From cultural tourism to social entrepreneurship: Role of social value creation for environmental sustainability. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 925768. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.925768
Lim, W. M., & Bowman, C. (2023). How to establish practical contributions and convey practical implications? Guidelines on locating practice gaps and making recommendations for practice. In (Vol. 47, pp. 263-282): Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/01924788.2023.2232220
Mason, P., Augustyn, M., & Seakhoa-King, A. (2023). Tourism destination quality and the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Tourism Agenda 2030. Tourism Review, 78(2), 443-460. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-05-2022-0259
Monika, Gautam, P., & Bhatia, D. (2024). Sustainability Through Community-Based Tourism Development (CBTD): Planning Initiatives, Concerns, and Strategies in the Growth of Medical Tourism. In B. Chaudhary, D. Bhatia, M. Patel, S. Singh, & S. Sharma (Eds.), Medical Tourism in Developing Countries: A contemporary approach (pp. 145-159). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8909-6_10
Mulder, M., & Hitters, E. (2021). Visiting pop concerts and festivals: measuring the value of an integrated live music motivation scale. Cultural Trends, 30(4), 355-375. https://doi.org/10.1080/09548963.2021.1916738
Nwagwu, W. E., & Akintoye, A. (2023). Influence of social media on the uptake of emerging musicians and entertainment events. Information Development, 40(4), 667-692. https://doi.org/10.1177/02666669221151162
Qiu, Q., Zuo, Y., & Zhang, M. (2022). Intangible cultural heritage in tourism: Research review and investigation of future agenda. Land, 11(1), 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010139
Rickly, J. M. (2022). A review of authenticity research in tourism: Launching the Annals of Tourism Research Curated Collection on authenticity. Annals of Tourism Research, 92, 103349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103349
Salem, I. E., El‐Said, O. A., El Gamil, R., Afifi, M. F., & Attallah, N. F. (2024). How Tourism Cultural Events Influence Multicultural Competence, Tourism Destination Image, and Visit Intentions: Evidence From the Pharaohs' Golden Parade. International Journal of Tourism Research, 26(5), e2740. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2740
Šepetavc, J., & Majsova, N. (2024). Slovenian folk-pop music as a place and nation making strategy between heritage and popular culture. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 19(1), 20-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873X.2023.2256897
Sheller, N. (2022). Sustainability in Single-Destination Music Festivals: Burning Man and Bonnaroo Arizona State University.
Shen, J., & Chou, R.-J. (2022). Rural revitalization of Xiamei: The development experiences of integrating tea tourism with ancient village preservation. Journal of Rural Studies, 90, 42-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.01.006
Shukla, V., Rana, S., & Prashar, S. (2024). Examining the potential of virtual and augmented reality in enhancing tourism experiences. The Bottom Line, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-05-2023-0139
Siles, D., García-Sánchez, A., & Vázquez-Méndez, M. d. M. (2024). Social Sustainability in Music Festivals: The Case of Rock Imperium. International Journal of Social Sustainability in Economic, Social & Cultural Context, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-1115/CGP/v20i01/83-100
Skandalis, A., Banister, E., & Byrom, J. (2023). Spatial Authenticity and Extraordinary Experiences: Music Festivals and the Everyday Nature of Tourism Destinations. Journal of Travel Research, 63(2), 357-370. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875231159054
Sousa, N., Alén, E., Losada, N., & Melo, M. (2024). Influencing wine tourists' decision-making with VR: The impact of immersive experiences on their behavioural intentions. Tourism Management Perspectives, 51, 101235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2024.101235
Tlili, A., Altinay, F., Altinay, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Envisioning the future of technology integration for accessible hospitality and tourism. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 33(12), 4460-4482. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2021-0321
Trompeta, M.-A., Karantinou, K., Koritos, C., & Bijmolt, T. H. A. (2022). A meta-analysis of the effects of music in tourism and hospitality settings. Journal of Business Research, 138, 130-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.08.067
van Nuenen, T., & Scarles, C. (2021). Advancements in technology and digital media in tourism. Tourist Studies, 21(1), 119-132. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468797621990410
Wang, C.-M., & Wu, T.-P. (2022). Does tourism promote or reduce environmental pollution? Evidence from major tourist arrival countries. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 24(3), 3334-3355. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01568-w
Wondirad, A., Kebete, Y., & Li, Y. (2021). Culinary tourism as a driver of regional economic development and socio-cultural revitalization: Evidence from Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 19, 100482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2020.100482
Wozniak, A. M. (2024). Cultural Diplomacy Despite the State: Mobility and Agency of State and Amateur Musicians in Turkish Classical Music Choirs. In M. M. Rijo Lopes da Cunha, J. Shannon, S. Møller Sørensen, & V. Danielson (Eds.), Music and Cultural Diplomacy in the Middle East: Geopolitical Re-Configurations for the 21st Century (pp. 93-121). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36279-8_5
Yi, Y., Siow, M. L., Ibrahim, R., & Abdul Aziz, F. Understanding the Role of Tourist-Oriented Villages in Promoting Rural Tourism in China: Integrating Rural Landscapes and Tourist Services. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 1-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/1528008X.2024.2401200
Zhang, J., Xiong, K., Liu, Z., & He, L. (2022). Research progress and knowledge system of world heritage tourism: a bibliometric analysis. Heritage Science, 10(1), 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00654-0
Zhuang, M., Zhang, H., Li, P., Shen, C., Xiao, X., & Zhang, J. (2023). Connecting tourists to musical destinations: The role of musical geographical imagination and aesthetic responses in music tourism. Tourism Management, 98, 104768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104768
