Research trajectory on tourism policy: a bibliometric overview

Based on Figure 3, discussions and journals related to tourism policy continue to develop over time; from 1982 to 1984, eight journals were published by several different authors. The debate is increasingly diverse; one journal cannot separate the link between tourism growth and economic development. The advantages gained since the development of the tourism sector are not proportional to the losses obtained (Krippendorf, 1982). The tourism policy issued should consider the sustainability of the next life; this policymaking is also a form of political transformation in the tourism sector.

Figure 3.

The first article on tourism policy appeared in 1976; the discussion focused on the definition and reasons why a tourism policy was needed to see the impact on society of policies issued from the government (Sessa, 1976). In a quotation from the article, the author also provides an ending in his writing, which explains how tourism policy can be beneficial and become a clear link for the application of economic theory in practice. So, this article acts as momentum for the emergence of a study on tourism policy with a more diverse study area (Figure 4).

Figure 4.

At that time, the development of tourism policies was urgently needed to support future sustainability in tourism and recreation (van Doorn, 1982). During this time, it was deemed necessary to study tourism policy further to address future needs (Edgell, 1983). Tourism policy also changed China, which used tourism for political benefits and tourism development (Richter, 1983).

Figure 4 explains that tourism policy not only concerns and focuses on the scope of tourism, but also relates to other areas outside of tourism. Tourism policy figures indicate that 48% of policies relate to social science, 40% relate to business and accounting management, and 7% relate to the environmental field. A smaller few percent indicate that tourism policy is linked to the arts and humanities, earth and planetary sciences, economics, econometrics and finance, energy, and engineering. This shows that the study of tourism policy attracts social science researchers, especially in relation to politics and policy (Helmy, 2014; Richter, 1983). Tourism policy is a determinant towards the improvement or detriment of a country; suitable and appropriate tourism policies can lead to benefits including a good environment and air quality for a country (Hamaguchi, 2020). The elevated level of domestic tourism has also become a business field generated by good tourism policies to support domestic tourism development (Warisman & Muda, 2019).

For 44 years, tourism policy studies have involved many authors from various institutions and countries; Figure 5 shows the top ten authors who have published the most articles on tourism policy. B. Bramwell has written the most articles, followed by T. Baum, E. Dela Santa, and H.Q. Zhang, with the same number of publications. One of the articles by B. Bramwell discusses the relational approach to understanding policymaking, the actors involved, and discussions that align with it in the realm of tourism policy (Bramwell & Meyer, 2007). The top authors have published at least two to three articles discussing tourism policy within a reasonable timeframe.

Figure 5.

Figure 6 shows the number of universities that have successfully affiliated with some of the top authors in their publications. The first order was occupied by the University of Surrey located in the United Kingdom, followed by Hong Kong Polytechnic University located in Hong Kong, The University of Queensland located in Australia, Sheffield Hallam University located in the United Kingdom, and other universities below. The four universities are the top universities with the highest number of affiliations and publications on tourism policy. Research published by the University of Surrey detail one of the approaches taken regarding tourism policy in Australia, where policymaking is limited by the country’s neoliberalism policy (Airey & Ruhanen, 2014).

Figure 6.

One of the studies affiliated with Hong Kong Polytechnic is highly influential and examines the role of the Chinese government in China’s economic development after the country implemented the Open-door Economic Reform Policy in the tourism sector through their adjusted tourism policies (Zhang et al., 1999). It can be concluded that the affiliation is dominated by universities located in the United Kingdom, such as the University of Surrey (1), Sheffield Hallam University (4), University of Strathclyde (6), and Leeds Beckett University (10). This is followed by universities from the Australian continent, specifically The University of Queensland (3), Southern Cross University (8), and University of Tasmania (9).

Figure 7 shows data on the authors of tourism policy articles, dominated mainly by authors from developed countries such as the United Kingdom, followed by the United States, as well as Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Canada, and China. Greece, Italy, and Japan are countries that have provided the least articles. The cooperation of tourism interest groups with the government to shape existing policies (Tyler & Dinan, 2001) has become one of the research topics originating from the United Kingdom. Furthermore, other articles discuss tourism policy development due to technological developments, product differentiation, and the development of management styles in the tourism industry (Fayos-Solá, 1996). An article from China discusses tourism policies that aim to promote sustainability as an indispensable aspect of tourism, so that the tourism sector does not backfire (Xu & Sofield, 2016). This is also a concern for authors from developing countries, and it can be concluded that this study of tourism policy has not become one of the main topics studied by authors in developing countries. Tourism policy is also a primary and sensitive matter related to the country’s economic and political sectors.

Figure 7.

In Table 1, the authors have described the most cited research. One of the top studies is ‘A Typology of Governance and Its Implications for Tourism Policy Analysis,’ written by Michael Hall, which, according to data from Table 1, has been cited 228 times. The preparation of good tourism policies requires a structured collaboration from a government, including public and political policies (Michael Hall, 2011). The concept of a policy network explains rational tourism policymaking based on the relationship between the government and other actors and interaction networks (Pforr, 2006). Referring to UNCTAD, the tourism sector is the sector that provides the most benefits for the country.

Tourism provides convenient benefits for workers, women, the economy, and agriculture, and strengthens the economic sector of developing countries (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2010). Tourism policy has finally become an important instrument and focuses on studies in research in developed countries. The ten most influential articles are presented in the table below and focus on sustainable tourism. The authors’ focus on sustainability indicates that the tourism sector, policy, government, and human resources are a straight line for the sustainability of the tourism economy while still paying attention to environmental issues (Baum, 2018; Bramwell, 1991; Guo et al., 2019).

Figure 8 and Table 2 explain the coverage related to the study of tourism policy, where each cluster has many strongly connected concepts. In the case study, cluster 1 is included in tourism policy. The initial discussion on tourism policy captured in the data refers to an article exploring the beginning of tourism policy that acts as the basis for economic development in various institutions and countries (Sessa, 1976). It is also discussed in another article regarding the dominant government involvement in tourism policymaking and initiatives for developing destinations in various policy schemes. These are instances where the government has a critical role in integrating various actors, on both local and national scales, to build a suitable superstructure (Pastras & Bramwell, 2013). Following this, when everything is integrated, there is a joint policy that will have the same commitment carried out (Liasidou, 2018).

Figure 8.

The primary key in this cluster 2 is competitiveness, where all elements that support competitiveness have comprehensive relevance in increasing the competitiveness of tourism resources that refer to international standards that are friendly to various tourism components. These are instances where tourism leads to economic growth and positively impacts development, and meets the community’s tourism needs (Panasiuk, 2021).

In cluster 3, policy implementation has relatively high complexity, with the MCDM (multiple criteria decision making) method (Liu et al., 2012) with the identification of tourism policies being a complex thing. Policy implementation cannot be seen only in one aspect of tourism when attempting to optimise tourism policies in each country (Suno et al., 2021). By increasing the multi-actor and multi-dimensional creations created by the government, the approach to achieving tourist destinations must be multi-faceted and innovate together.

Cluster 4, which will lead to the improvement of tourism management with a holistic approach, can evaluate national tourism policies with the dynamics in policy implementation. In tourism, management is a public policy, and it can be a balance between stakeholders both in building and preserving heritage and tourism attractions (C.-H. Liu et al., 2012).

Cluster 5 is included in the concentration of ecotourism, and how the impact of tourist movement activities, if not appropriately managed, will gradually cause problems in the long term (Hamaguchi, 2019). Tourism will become an essential for the global community for recreational purposes in many various regions until people leave the area. National boundaries become essential when sustainable tourism is considered through ecotourism, which requires support from all parties to formulate policies implemented in various countries. Tourism has a vital role in climate change, and as it does not receive intensive attention from various parties directly related to tourism, the government must use an integrated approach between networks such as China, Fiji, and New Zealand (Becken & Clapcott, 2011; Xu & Sofield, 2015). In cluster 6, with the downstreaming and stabilisation of national tourism, many countries start to compete to get an enormous foreign exchange income from this sector, and the development of international tourism is the opening road for development.

Figure 9 describes the relationship clusters from various countries. The cluster (red) shows the relationship between Italy, Canada, China, and Australia, divided into three interrelated clusters. A published article from the cluster discusses tourism policymaking using the Territory Tourism Development Masterplan (TDMP) method in the northern region of Australia as a new area for tourism development targets in Australia (Pforr, 2001). The second cluster (green) is filled by United Kingdom, Spain, and Greece. Articles published from Spain raised the issue of climate change, which is a strong concern in Spain’s tourism sector; it is known that Spain became the third most visited country by tourists in 2014, and adjustments to tourism policies were made by the Spanish government to reduce global warming effects (Cantos & Rebollo, 2016).

Figure 9.

Furthermore, the last cluster (blue) consists of the United States and New Zealand. Articles that appear from the United States have similarities with articles from Spain, namely climate change. Climate change is a problem for Barbados, with many areas dominated by the sea and coast. Policy actors and tourism owners have begun to work together to deal with this issue because Barbados made tourism the main driver of their economy (Belle & Bramwell, 2005).

Figure 10 shows the journals that often publish articles on tourism policy. Meanwhile, the journals are divided into three interrelated clusters. Articles published in the first cluster (red), one of which is published in the journal Tourism Management, explaining tourism policy in Sarawak, and how the government and the community attempt economic diversification in the tourism sector to increase their economy (Haigh, 2020). Another article published in the second cluster (green) Journal of Planning and Development, specifically discusses the role of domestic tourism organization and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) in developing countries for branding tourist destinations in the media (through brochures) aimed at increasing domestic tourist visits (Kokkranikal et al., 2011). In the third cluster (blue), one article published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism raised long-term global transport proposals for tourists to attempt to reduce the effects of climate change in the world. It also aims to change the behaviour system to be more environmentally friendly to create sustainable tourism (Peeters, 2013).

Figure 10.