SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM

A BIBLIOMETRIC AND SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EMERGING TRENDS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Abstract

Sustainable community-based tourism (CBT) is viewed as a means to promote social inclusion and sustainable development, particularly through local empowerment and cultural preservation. However, recent tensions in tourism destinations necessitate a critical reassessment of these claims. This study evaluates the socio-cultural impacts of sustainable CBT by conducting a bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review (SLR) of 113 peer-reviewed articles published between 2019 and 2025, as indexed in the Scopus database. The bibliometric mapping reveals a significant increase in publication output, more than quadrupling during the study period, with predominant themes focused on participation, cultural heritage, and quality of life. However, the study largely marginalizes critical issues like power asymmetries, social carrying capacity, community resistance, and inequality. The systematic review shows that much of the existing literature tends to normalize participation as synonymous with empowerment and view cultural visibility as a form of preservation, often neglecting the internal disparities within communities concerning gender, class, and access to tourism resources. Additionally, the study highlights that the impact of digitally mediated tourism and increased destination exposure is inadequately addressed. Thus, while research on socio-cultural impacts is growing in both volume and scope, it largely fails to incorporate justice-oriented and power-sensitive perspectives.