Circular Economy for Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis for the Tourism/Hospitality Field

Abstract

The tourism and hospitality sector is known for its excessive consumption of natural resources, waste generation, and negative environmental impacts. The concept of circular economy (CE) has gained increasing attention in recent years as a strategy to promote sustainability and resource efficiency in various industries, including tourism and hospitality. This bibliometric analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current research trends regarding the adoption of CE principles in the tourism and hospitality sector. Unlike conventional methods, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis combined studies from Web of Science and Scopus databases between 2013 and 2024 using the keywords circular economy, tourism, and hospitality. In this research, which includes 314 articles selected in accordance with the PRISMA protocol, it is seen that CE applications are becoming increasingly important. The research results show that there has been a significant increase in the number of publications since 2015; the most productive countries are Italy, Spain, and China, and topics such as waste management and recycling stand out as motor themes. It is thought that the number of studies on practical applications and niche themes should increase and future research suggestions are presented.