A bibliometric analysis of research on dark tourism

This study aims to conduct a structural bibliometric analysis of the academic literature on dark tourism, with the goal of identifying key trends, collaborations, and research gaps within the field. A total of 632 articles published between 2000 and 2024 wereretrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix (R-studio). The study evaluates metrics such as annual publication trends, keyword co-occurrence networks, author collaboration patterns, country-based research partnerships, and journal performance. The results show a marked increase in scholarly interest in dark tourism, particularly after 2010, with a notable spike in publications observed post-2020. Dominant themes include "motivation" (28%), "ethics" (17%), and "thanatourism" (14%), which appear frequently in high-impact and widely cited studies. Most research is concentrated in Europe and North America, indicating a regional imbalance in scholarly attention. Key gaps in the literature include a lack of empirical studies on dark tourism destinations in developing nations and limited exploration of the economic implications of such tourism practices. These findings suggest significant opportunities for future research, particularly in underrepresented regions. By providing a comprehensive quantitative and network-based overview, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the academic landscape surrounding dark tourism and offers strategic directions for future investigations.