Artificial intelligence in tourism and hospitality: Bibliometric analysis and research agenda

ABSTRACT

Artificial intelligence (AI) has received a great deal of attention in tourism and hospitality (T&H) literature and practices. The authors of this study propose a bibliometric approach aiming to examine current state-of-the-art AI research in T&H. In total, 1035 manuscripts published between 1984 and 2021 were retrieved form Scopus and Web of Science. This study highlights the evolving volume of studies, authors, affiliated institutions and countries, authorship networks, keyword co-occurrences, and keyword networks and also includes a thematic map that highlights four types of research motor themes (i.e., artificial neural networks and data mining);basic and transversal themes (i.e., text mining and sentiment analysis, Internet of things and big data, COVID and AI);emerging themes (experience with service robots);and specialized and peripheral themes (e.g., forecasting tourism models, augmented reality and virtual reality, and biometrics). The paper concludes with future perspectives and research avenues in this field.