GLOBAL BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS IN THE SCOPUS DATABASE FROM 1983 TO 2024 ON TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND ITS THEORETICAL IMPLICATIONS

Dauren Aliken, Emin ATASOY, Altynbek ZHAKUPOV, Abilgazy K. Kurbaniyazov, Gulzhan ABDRAMANOVA, Zubaira TEMIRALIEVA, Alibi AMANZHOLOV, Asylzhan UKENOV

GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 2026

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DOI 10.30892/gtg.662spl44-1805
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

Tourism for people with disabilities has attracted increasing scholarly attention due to demographic changes, social inclusion initiatives, and the recognition of accessibility as a critical dimension of sustainable tourism development. Despite the growing body of research, the intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and theoretical foundations of the field remain fragmented. This study aims to systematically examine scientific output on disability tourism to identify dominant themes, emerging trends, and their theoretical and practical implications, providing a comprehensive overview of the field's development and guiding future research and policy initiatives. A structured search of the Scopus database (1983–2024) using the term “disabled tourism” in publication titles yielded 157 relevant articles. Bibliometric analysis was performed using the Bibliometrics software, allowing formal and thematic characterization of the scientific output. Key indicators included annual publication trends, country and institutional contributions, productivity by type of institution, and journal profiles. Additional analyses focused on citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, thematic cluster development, and interconnections between research topics. The study also examined emerging directions and patterns of international collaboration to reveal the conceptual structure and global reach of the field. Findings indicate a marked increase in research activity since 2015, highlighting the consolidation of disability tourism as a distinct and sustainable research domain. Core thematic clusters focus on accessibility, disability, tourism development, and consumer behavior. Emerging trends emphasize sustainability, digital technologies, social capital, and virtual tourism. The analysis reveals a gradual shift from barrier-centered studies toward integrative, opportunity-oriented conceptual approaches. Patterns of collaboration across countries and institutions demonstrate increasing internationalization and the formation of a global research network. Overall, these results clarify the intellectual landscape of disability tourism research, identifying knowledge gaps, priority areas, and practical implications for policy formulation and the development of inclusive tourism strategies worldwide.