A Systematic Literature Review of Tourism Typologies in Northern India

This systematic literature review (SLR) examines tourist typologies in Northern India, concentrating on adventure and medical tourism in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Employing the PRISMA procedure, 29 peer-reviewed papers from Scopus (2014–2024) were examined following the evaluation of 50 records. Adventure tourism flourishes in Himalayan locales such as Manali and Rishikesh, propelled by pursuits like trekking and rafting, whilst medical tourism prevails in Delhi, bolstered by affordable healthcare and holistic wellness methodologies (e.g., Ayurveda, Yoga). Principal themes encompass risk perception, infrastructure quality, patient satisfaction, sustainability, and community engagement. Research deficiencies encompass inadequate exploration of hybrid typologies (e.g., religious-medical tourism), insufficient regional comparisons, and underutilization of sophisticated approaches such as GIS or big data analytics. The analysis uncovers a disjointed research environment characterized by disciplinary silos and a lack of alignment between academic discoveries and policy execution. These findings establish a basis for multidisciplinary research and evidence-based tourist planning, highlighting sustainable and equitable development in Northern India.