Bibliometric Mapping of Documents on SPA Tourism in the Scopus Database

This study aimed to provide a bibliometric analysis of spa tourism literature by examining key publications, authors, countries, institutions, and keywords. The research provided an overview of the development and structure of spa tourism studies to guide researchers and industry professionals. In this context, 171 documents indexed in the Scopus database between 1990 and August 27, 2024, using the keyword "spa tourism" were analyzed. VOSviewer (v1.6.20) was used for bibliometric mapping, covering documents, authors, institutions, countries, and keywords. The results showed that Bakucz M., de la Hoz-Correa A., Muñoz-Leiva F., and Han H. are among the most frequently cited authors in the field. The most cited studies include “Past themes and future trends in medical tourism research” and “Health or self-indulgence? The motivations and characteristics of spa-goers.” In terms of country contributions, Spain, the United Kingdom, Hungary, and South Korea play significant roles in spa tourism research. Among institutions, the University of Granada (Spain), University of Pécs (Hungary), and Tamkang University (Taiwan) are the leading contributors. The keyword analysis reveals that "spa tourism," "health tourism," and "tourism" are the most frequently used terms. This study offered a structured overview of spa tourism research, highlighting the necessity for further comparative analyses and interdisciplinary approaches to advance the field.