Two decades of research on halal hospitality and tourism: a review and research agenda

Purpose This study aims to conduct a synopsis and overview of past research that discussed halal hospitality development and the halal travel market. Design/methodology/approach An extensive systematic review of 108 articles within the hospitality and tourism domain from 2000 to 2021 that were extracted from the Web of Science and Scopus databases was exhaustively assessed. Findings The results are visualised to determine the most thematic domains, contexts and concepts previously discussed. It also computed the contribution of journals, authors and affiliations in fostering the mobility of halal tourism studies. The study attempted to chart new directions and insights for future scholars and academics to expand the scope of halal literature in two ways. It articulated the implications and guidance themes emphasised in previous studies and identified new paths to abreast the contemporary issues of the hospitality and tourism industry, including sustainable consumption trends, community development, technology and smart practises, as well as potential threats and challenges such as islamophobia. Originality/value In view of the fast growth of halal market studies, the direction and contribution of the previous literature produced limited discussions with certain theoretical concepts. This study advises new pathways in which halal tourism development can respond to contemporary issues in hospitality and tourism.