Mapping the Field: A Systematic Bibliographic Review of Geotourism Trends in the Twenty-First Century

In the modern era, the tourism industry has experienced rapid growth, with geotourism emerging as a vital component. The popularity of geotourism has increased significantly in recent decades. The growing popularity and research on geotourism necessitate a thorough literature review. This study employs bibliometric analysis using Scopus databases to investigate geotourism articles in the twenty-first century thoroughly. This study uses VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software to analyze publication output, journals, geographical distribution, titles, and co-occurrence keywords to identify current research trends and future directions in this field The study highlights trending topics: geotourism, geoheritage, geoconservation, tourism development, and geosite. There's a 1139.02% surge in publications from 2002-2012 to 2013-2024, with Italy, Poland, Spain, and India as the leading nations in this field. The key conclusions highlight the significance of global cooperation, the need for innovative evaluation methods, and the incorporation of indigenous populations. Language barriers, inadequate comprehensive management and planning studies, and a Northern Hemisphere scientific concentration remain despite advances. This research highlights geotourism's interdisciplinary nature, quick growth, and critical role in sustainable development and conservation. To preserve geological variability for future generations, future research must match theoretical and practical applications and stimulate international cooperation.