Tourism eco-efficiency: Progress and prospect
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/0867-5856.2025.10Keywords:
tourism eco-efficiency, bibliometrics analysis, systematic reviewAbstract
This study aims to analyse relevant literature on tourism eco-efficiency which has arrived since this terminology was proposed almost two decades ago. This study was conducted using bibliometric analysis based on literature findings from the Scopus database, filtered by the ROSES framework, which resulted in a collection of 99 articles between 2005 and 2023, further analysed using the Biblioshiny package in R. We conducted five analyses, including general and source-based – to explore the most relevant and impactful journals, author-based – to highlight the most frequently cited productive researchers, and country-based – to identify those with consistent research networks and an abundant output on related topics. Additionally, there was keyword-based – emphasizing the evolution of tourism eco-efficiency discourse over time. This keyword-based analysis is further divided into factorial – clustered keywords; and thematic – grouping keywords into quadrants offering retrospective insight and identifying unexplored topics for future research. The findings of this study propose valuable insights into the topic of tourism eco-efficiency and propose further research directions, including those on spatial analysis, tourism spillover effects, integration with environmental regulations and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Downloads
References
Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
Arruda, H., Silva, E.R., Lessa, M., Proença, D., Jr., & Bartholo, R. (2022). VOSviewer and Bibliometrix. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 110(3), 392–395. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2022.1434
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2022.1434
Becken, S. (2008). Developing indicators for managing tourism in the face of peak oil. Tourism Management, 29(4), 695–705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.07.012
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.07.012
Becken, S., & Patterson, M. (2006). Measuring national carbon dioxide emissions from tourism as a key step towards achieving sustainable tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 14(4), 323–338. https://doi.org/10.2167/jost547.0
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2167/jost547.0
Bellato, L., Frantzeskaki, N., Briceño Fiebig, C., Pollock, A., Dens, E., & Reed, B. (2022). Transformative roles in tourism: Adopting living systems’ thinking for regenerative futures. Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(3), 312–329. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2021-0256
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2021-0256
Bradford, S.C. (1934). Sources of information on specific subjects. Engineering: An Illustrated Weekly Journal, 137, 85–86.
Google Scholar
Brookes, B.C. (1969). Bradford’s law and the bibliography of science. Nature, 224(5223), 953–956. https://doi.org/10.1038/224953a0
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/224953a0
Cadarso, M.Á., Gómez, N., López, L.A., & Tobarra, M.Á. (2016). Calculating tourism’s carbon footprint: Measuring the impact of investments. Journal of Cleaner Production, 111(Part B), 529–537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.09.019
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.09.019
D’Amato, D., Droste, N., Allen, B., Kettunen, M., Lähtinen, K., Korhonen, J., Leskinen, P., Matthies, B.D., & Toppinen, A. (2017). Green, circular, bio economy: A comparative analysis of sustainability avenues. Journal of Cleaner Production, 168, 716–734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.053
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.053
Delgado-Antequera, L., Gémar, G., Molinos-Senante, M., Gómez, T., Caballero, R., & Sala-Garrido, R. (2021). Eco-efficiency assess-ment of municipal solid waste services: Influence of exogenous variables. Waste Management, 130, 136–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.05.022
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.05.022
Díaz-Villavicencio, G., Didonet, S.R., & Dodd, A. (2017). Influencing factors of eco-efficient urban waste management: Evidence from Spanish municipalities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 164, 1486–1496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.064
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.064
Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N., & Lim, W.M. (2021). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070
Freeman, A.M., III., Haveman, R.H., & Kneese, A.V. (1973). The economics of environmental policy. Wiley.
Google Scholar
García-Melón, M., Gómez-Navarro, T., & Acuña-Dutra, S. (2012). A combined ANP-Delphi approach to evaluate sustainable tourism. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 34, 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2011.12.001
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2011.12.001
Gössling, S., Peeters, P., Ceron, J.-P., Dubois, G., Patterson, T., & Richardson, R.B. (2005). The eco-efficiency of tourism. Ecological Economics, 54(4), 417–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.006
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.006
Guo, T., Wang, J., & Li, C. (2022). Spatial–temporal evolution and influencing mechanism of tourism ecological efficiency in China. Sustainability, 14(24), Article 16880. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416880
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416880
Haddaway, N.R., Macura, B., Whaley, P., & Pullin, A.S. (2017). ROSES flow diagram for systematic maps: Version 1.0. https://doi.org/10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.6085940
Google Scholar
Haddaway, N.R., Macura, B., Whaley, P., & Pullin, A.S. (2018). ROSES RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses: Pro forma, flow-diagram and descriptive summary of the plan and conduct of environmental systematic reviews and systematic maps. Environmental Evidence, 7(1), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-018-0121-7
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-018-0121-7
Haibo, C., Ke, D., Fangfang, W., & Ayamba, E.C. (2020). The spatial effect of tourism economic development on regional ecological efficiency. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(30), 38241–38258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09004-8
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09004-8
Han, J. (2019). Carrying capacity of low carbon tourism environ-ment in coastal areas from the perspective of ecological efficiency. Journal of Coastal Research, 83(sp1), 199–203. https://doi.org/10.2112/SI83-031.1
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2112/SI83-031.1
Kelly, J., Haider, W., Williams, P.W., & Englund, K. (2007). Stated preferences of tourists for eco-efficient destination planning options. Tourism Management, 28(2), 377–390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2006.04.015
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2006.04.015
Kelly, J., & Williams, P. (2007). Tourism destination water management strategies: An eco-efficiency modelling approach. Leisure/Loisir, 31(2), 427–452. https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2007.9651390
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2007.9651390
Kytzia, S., Walz, A., & Wegmann, M. (2011). How can tourism use land more efficiently? A model-based approach to land-use efficiency for tourist destinations. Tourism Management, 32(3), 629–640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.05.014
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.05.014
Lenzen, M., Sun, Y.-Y., Faturay, F., Ting, Y.-P., Geschke, A., & Malik, A. (2018). The carbon footprint of global tourism. Nature Climate Change, 8(6), 522–528. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0141-x
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0141-x
Li, B., Ma, X., & Chen, K. (2021). Eco-efficiency measurement and spatial–temporal evolution of forest tourism. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 14(7), Article 568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06926-6
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06926-6
Li, X., Meo, M.S., Aziz, N., Arain, H., & Ferraz, D. (2022). Effects of inbound tourism on the ecological footprint: An application of an innovative dynamic panel threshold model. Frontiers in Environmental Science: Section Environmental Economics and Management, 10, Article 910999. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.910999
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.910999
Liu, J., Zhang, J., & Fu, Z. (2017). Tourism eco-efficiency of Chinese coastal cities: Analysis based on the DEA-Tobit model. Ocean & Coastal Management, 148, 164–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.08.003
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.08.003
Llanquileo-Melgarejo, P., & Molinos-Senante, M. (2021). Evaluation of economies of scale in eco-efficiency of municipal waste management: An empirical approach for Chile. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(22), 28337–28348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12529-1
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12529-1
Llanquileo-Melgarejo, P., Molinos-Senante, M., Romano, G., & Carosi, L. (2021). Evaluation of the impact of separative collection and recycling of municipal solid waste on perfor-mance: An empirical application for Chile. Sustainability, 13(4), Article 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042022
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042022
Lu, F., Qin, W., & Wang, Y.-X. (2021). Research on spatial pattern dynamic evolution algorithm and optimization model construction and driving mechanism of provincial tourism eco-efficiency in China under the background of cloud computing. Scientific Programming, 2021, Article 1951264. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1951264
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1951264
Lynes, J.K., & Dredge, D. (2006). Going green: Motivations for environmental commitment in the airline industry: A case study of Scandinavian Airlines. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 14(2), 116–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580608669048
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580608669048
Molinos-Senante, M., Maziotis, A., Sala-Garrido, R., & Mocholí- Arce, M. (2023a). Factors influencing eco-efficiency of municipal solid waste management in Chile: A double-bootstrap approach. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy, 41(2), 457–466. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X221122514
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X221122514
Molinos-Senante, M., Maziotis, A., Sala-Garrido, R., & Mocholi-Arce, M. (2023b). The eco-efficiency of municipalities in the recycling of solid waste: A stochastic semi-parametric envelopment of data approach. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy, 41(5), 1036–1045. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X221142223
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X221142223
Moral-Muñoz, J.A., Herrera-Viedma, E., Santisteban-Espejo, A., & Cobo, M.J. (2020). Software tools for conducting bibliometric analysis in science: An up-to-date review. El Profesional de la Información, 29(1), Article e290103. https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.ene.03
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.ene.03
Nathaniel, S.P., Barua, S., & Ahmed, Z. (2021). What drives ecological footprint in top ten tourist destinations? Evidence from advanced panel techniques. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(28), 38322–38331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13389-5
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13389-5
Niñerola, A., Sánchez-Rebull, M.-V., & Hernández-Lara, A.-B. (2019). Tourism research on sustainability: A bibliometric analysis. Sustainability, 11(5), Article 1377. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051377
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051377
Peeters, P., & Schouten, F. (2006). Reducing the ecological footprint of inbound tourism and transport to Amsterdam. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 14(2), 157–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580508669050
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580508669050
Peng, H., Zhang, J., Lu, L., Tang, G., Yan, B., Xiao, X., & Han, Y. (2017). Eco-efficiency and its determinants at a tourism destination: A case study of Huangshan National Park, China. Tourism Management, 60, 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.12.005
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.12.005
Perch-Nielsen, S., Sesartic, A., & Stucki, M. (2010). The greenhouse gas intensity of the tourism sector: The case of Switzerland. Environmental Science & Policy, 13(2), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2009.12.002
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2009.12.002
Prerana, P., Kapoor, D., & Jain, A. (2024). Sustainable tourism and its future research directions: A bibliometric analysis of twenty-five years of research. Tourism Review, 79(3), 541–567. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/tr-11-2022-0540/full/html
Google Scholar
Qiu, X., Fang, Y., Yang, X., & Zhu, F. (2017). Tourism eco-efficiency measurement, characteristics, and its influence factors in China. Sustainability, 9(9), Article 1634. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9091634
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su9091634
Reilly, J., Williams, P., & Haider, W. (2010). Moving towards more eco-efficient tourist transportation to a resort destination: The case of Whistler, British Columbia. Research in Transportation Economics, 26(1), 66–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2009.10.009
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2009.10.009
Romano, G., & Molinos-Senante, M. (2020). Factors affecting eco-efficiency of municipal waste services in Tuscan municipalities: An empirical investigation of different management models. Waste Management, 105, 384–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.02.028
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.02.028
Sala-Garrido, R., Mocholi-Arce, M., Molinos-Senante, M., & Maziotis, A. (2022). Measuring technical, environmental and eco-efficiency in municipal solid waste management in Chile. International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, 15(1), 71–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/19397038.2022.2053606
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19397038.2022.2053606
Sala-Garrido, R., Mocholi-Arce, M., Molinos-Senante, M., & Maziotis, A. (2023). Monetary valuation of unsorted waste: A shadow price approach. Journal of Environmental Management, 325(Part B), Article 116668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116668
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116668
Schaltegger, S., & Sturm, A. (1990). Ökologische Rationalität: Ansatzpunkte zur Ausgestaltung von ökologieorientierten Managementinstrumenten [Environmental rationality: Starting points for the design of ecology-oriented management instruments]. Die Unternehmung, 44(4), 273–290. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24180467
Google Scholar
Scheepens, A.E., Vogtländer, J.G., & Brezet, J.C. (2016). Two life cycle assessment (LCA) based methods to analyse and design complex (regional) circular economy systems: Case: Making water tourism more sustainable. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 257–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.05.075
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.05.075
Shenton, A.K., & Hay-Gibson, N.V. (2009). Bradford’s law and its relevance to researchers. Education for Information, 27(4), 217–230. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2009-0882
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2009-0882
Su, Y., & Lee, C.-C. (2022). The impact of air quality on international tourism arrivals: A global panel data analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(41), 62432–62446. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20030-6
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20030-6
Sun, Y., & Hou, G. (2021). Analysis on the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics and spatial network structure of tourism eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), Article 2577. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052577
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052577
Sun, Y.-Y. (2016). Decomposition of tourism greenhouse gas emissions: Revealing the dynamics between tourism economic growth, technological efficiency, and carbon emissions. Tourism Management, 55, 326–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.02.014
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.02.014
Sun, Y.-Y., & Pratt, S. (2014). The economic, carbon emission, and water impacts of Chinese visitors to Taiwan: Eco-efficiency and impact evaluation. Journal of Travel Research, 53(6), 733–746. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287513517420
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287513517420
Tyrväinen, L., Uusitalo, M., Silvennoinen, H., & Hasu, E. (2014). Towards sustainable growth in nature-based tourism destinations: Clients’ views of land use options in Finnish Lapland. Landscape and Urban Planning, 122, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.10.003
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.10.003
United Nations Environment Programme. (n.d.). Solid waste management. https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/resource-efficiency/what-we-do/cities/solid-waste-management
Google Scholar
United Nations World Tourism Organization. (2025, April 4). Global and regional tourism performance. https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/global-and-regional-tourism-performance
Google Scholar
Wang, C., Xu, L., Huang, M., Su, X., Lai, R., & Xu, A. (2022). Research on the evolution of spatial network structure of tourism eco-efficiency and its influencing factors in China’s provinces based on carbon emission accounting. PLoS ONE, 17(9), Article e0272667. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272667
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272667
Wang, R., Guo, Z., Cai, C., Zhang, J., Bian, F., Sun, S., & Wang, Q. (2021). Practices and roles of bamboo industry development for alleviating poverty in China. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 23(6), 1687–1699. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-021-02074-3
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-021-02074-3
World Bank Group. (2019). International tourism, number of arrivals – Europe & Central Asia, North America, Latin America & Carib-bean, East Asia & Pacific, South Asia, Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?locations=Z7-XU-ZJ-Z4-8S-ZQ-ZG
Google Scholar
World Business Council for Sustainable Development. (2000, October). Eco-efficiency: Creating more value with less impact (M. Lehni, Ed.). http://www.ceads.org.ar/downloads/Ecoeficiencia.%20Creating%20more%20value%20with%20less%20impact.pdf
Google Scholar
Wu, K.-J., Zhu, Y., Chen, Q., & Tseng, M.-L. (2019). Building sustainable tourism hierarchical framework: Coordinated triple bottom line approach in linguistic preferences. Journal of Cleaner Production, 229, 157–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.212
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.212
Xia, B., Dong, S., Li, Z., Zhao, M., Sun, D., Zhang, W., & Li, Y. (2022). Eco-efficiency and its drivers in tourism sectors with respect to carbon emissions from the supply chain: An integrated EEIO and DEA approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), Article 6951. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116951
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116951
Yang, G., Li, P., Zheng, B., & Zhang, Y. (2008). GHG emission-based eco-efficiency study on tourism itinerary products in Shangri- La, Yunnan Province, China. Current Issues in Tourism, 11(6), 604–622. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500802475943
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500802475943
Zambrano-Monserrate, M.A., Ruano, M.A., & Ormeño-Candelario, V. (2021). Determinants of municipal solid waste: A global analysis by countries’ income level. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(44), 62421–62430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15167-9
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15167-9
Zha, J., Yuan, W., Dai, J., Tan, T., & He, L. (2020). Eco-efficiency, eco-productivity and tourism growth in China: A non-convex metafrontier DEA-based decomposition model. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(5), 663–685. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1699102
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1699102
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Funding data
-
Universitas Indonesia
Grant numbers School of Environmental Science Universitas Indonesia Internal Grant PKS-0018/UN2.F13.D1/PPM.01.04/2023



