The complexity of the tourism supply chain in the 21st century: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study aims to examine the evolution of the tourism supply chain (TSC) and its future development factors. To this end, a quantitative bibliometric analysis was conducted to provide insights from a statistical perspective, including the evolution of the TSC and an outlook on current characteristics and future research trends. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a quantitative bibliometric study of selected papers on the Web of Science. The study of the evolution of the TSC is based on analyses of bibliographic coupling and co-occurrence of keywords. Findings Bibliographic coupling analysis identified 10 clusters defined by coherent groups of theoretical perspectives. The keyword analysis explains the occurrences in the TSC concept. It also helps to determine the future main drivers of TSC research. In the post-COVID-19 era, the tourism industry needs to focus on green transformation and new technologies to transform TSC, supply chain management and B2B relationships. It also needs to ensure employee retention and policies to attract new talent. Originality/value This study provides a comprehensive, objective and integrative overview of the evolution of TSC. It is one of the few original works on supply chain development and will be helpful for scholars and practitioners alike to understand the subject.