Mapping research on family business in tourism and hospitality: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to map the development of research on family business in tourism and hospitality and provides insights into the key contributors, key areas and current dynamics, and suggests future research directions in the field.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the Web of Science (WoS) database to identify the 124 articles published in the theme. The study uses bibliometric indicators such as the co-citation network, word co-occurrence network to analyze the publication and citation structure using Science of Science (Sci2), OpenRefine, and Gephi.FindingsThe top authors, top journals and major themes are recognized using bibliometric techniques. The study identifies six keyword clusters: entrepreneurship, innovation, and empirical collaborating with tourism, hospitality, and family business. The country-wise collaboration indicates the lack of research in the eastern hemisphere of the world. The co-authorship shows studies shared among individuals of a few organizations. The trends from bibliographic coupling depict the evolution of research.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of data collection for the network analysis is limited to the WoS. Incorporating papers from other databases might provide different network structures and insights.Originality/valueThe study is the first of its kind in the theme of family businesses in tourism and hospitality and will contribute to the literature by identifying future research directions.