Title: Exploring the evolution of mobile tourism applications in business and social sciences: a bibliometric review spanning 2013-2022

Authors: Priyanka Chadha; Sanath Krishnan Menon; Rajat Gera; Sanjeev Bansal

Addresses: Amity Business School, Amity University, Noida, India ' School of Management and Commerce, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, India ' School of Management, OMBR Campus, CMR University, Bangalore, India ' Amity Business School, Amity University, Noida, India

Abstract: This paper conducts a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications in the domain of mobile tourism apps (MTA) within business management and social sciences. Covering articles from 2013 to 2022, the study identifies trends, themes, and research gaps. By analysing 61 articles using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer interfaces in R Studio, the research highlights productivity metrics, authorship, citations, and keywords. The MTA field's intellectual structure reveals a focus on technical, user-centric, and market-related dimensions of mobile apps in tourism, particularly at the nexus of technology, sustainability, and the tourist experience. Notably, sustainable tourism potential and digital transformation of leisure stand as core themes. Niche subjects delve into location-based services and personalised mobile experiences. Emerging trends encompass AI, VR, and tourism management, reflecting the pursuit of innovative technologies for enriching tourist encounters. The findings guide future research directions, underscoring the ever-evolving landscape of MTA research.

Keywords: mobile apps; mobile tourism; bibliometric analysis; Biblioshiny; VOSviewer; sustainability; cultural heritage; augmented reality; virtual reality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIMA.2025.147553

International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, 2025 Vol.23 No.1/2, pp.159 - 189

Received: 24 Apr 2023
Accepted: 16 Aug 2023
Published online: 21 Jul 2025 *

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