Emotional intelligence in tourism and hospitality: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Emotional intelligence is a topic that has gained attention in the tourism and hospitality literature. However, the understanding of emotional intelligence is diverse, with multiple theoretical and methodological perspectives. This study analyzes publications on emotional intelligence in tourism and hospitality and assesses the state of the art. A bibliometric analysis of 97 studies reveals the complex diversity and breadth of the topic and identifies nine thematic clusters. The analysis of the keywords and their groupings revealed an extensive interweaving of related themes. Although some of the terms used in the papers are theoretically the same, no study links them in practice. The interconnectedness of these themes suggests that emotional intelligence should not be approached in isolation. The results also indicate shortcomings in the practical implications and possible improvements to be considered methodologically in future research.