Tourism Destination Competitiveness Research: A Systematic Review of the Post‑2000 Literature (2000–2026)
Abstract
This study examines the theoretical and methodological evolution of the destination competitiveness (DC) literature over the period 2000–2026 through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Following the PRISMA 2020 guideline, records retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection via a structured search strategy were screened through a multi‑stage selection process and a final synthesis set was established. The findings indicate that early research (2000–2010) predominantly relied on resource inventories and a comparative advantage logic; that the 2011–2019 period expanded DC components through digitalisation and the “smart destination” agenda; and that after 2020, crisis governance, adaptive capacity and resilience became increasingly salient. Bibliometric outputs reveal publication dynamics over time and the field’s intellectual core, while keyword‑based thematic clustering suggests that competitiveness debates have diversified across sustainability, governance and data‑driven management. By systematically structuring conceptual fragmentation in the DC literature, the study offers an integrated map and a platform for future measurement models and comparative empirical research.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Tourism Management
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Ramazan Göral
*
0000-0003-0918-6537
Türkiye
Early Pub Date
May 5, 2026
Publication Date
-
Submission Date
March 9, 2026
Acceptance Date
May 3, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication
