Ecoturismul ca instrument al dezvoltării durabile: o analiză bibliometrică
Ecotourism as a Tool for Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Analysis

Summary/Abstract: The present research aims to investigate the evolution and dominant directions of scientific inquiry in the field of ecotourism through a bibliometric analysis of the literature published between 2014 and 2024. The main objective of the study is to highlight recurring themes, conceptual relationships, and the collaborative structure of research in this area, in the context in which ecotourism is increasingly viewed as a key tool for supporting sustainable development. The methodology employed is quantitative, specific to bibliometric analysis, and involves the extraction and processing of bibliographic data from the international Scopus database. The query was conducted in July 2025 using the keyword “ecotourism,” without applying additional filters regarding publication type or indexing year, resulting in a total of 9,111 relevant publications. The analysis was carried out using the VOSviewer software, which enabled the mapping of keywords and the identification of thematic networks and conceptual clusters. The results indicate a significant increase in scientific interest in ecotourism, demonstrated by the diversification of research areas. Four main clusters were identified: (1) biodiversity conservation and climate change, (2) regional development and the role of local communities, (3) sustainable innovation and tourism management, and (4) ecotourism in mountain and protected areas, with a focus on specific geographic regions such as Serbia. The conclusions emphasize the interdisciplinary role of ecotourism in supporting the transition toward sustainability, as well as the need to integrate it into public policies and local development strategies.

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