Negative effects of ecotourism in protected areas: a bibliometric analysis from a recreation ecology perspective

Ecotourism in protected areas has experienced significant growth in recent years, increasing scientific interest in understanding its environmental impacts. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on the negative effects of ecotourism in protected areas from a recreation ecology perspective. Using the Scopus database, 684 documents published between 2016 and 2025 were analyzed to identify publication trends, leading countries, influential authors and institutions, subject areas, and thematic evolution. The results reveal a sustained increase in scientific production, with an annual growth rate of 15.25%, particularly from 2019 onward. Environmental Science, Social Sciences, and Agricultural and Biological Sciences were the predominant research areas. The United States, Australia, China, the United Kingdom, and Canada accounted for the largest scientific output, while keyword co-occurrence analysis identified ecotourism, protected areas, biodiversity, sustainability, recreation, and environmental conservation as the dominant research themes. The reviewed literature consistently reports environmental impacts associated with ecotourism, including wildlife disturbance, soil degradation and erosion, CO 2 emissions, waste generation, and increasing pressure on natural resources. Overall, the findings demonstrate the growing maturity of this research field and highlight the need to strengthen management strategies that promote environmentally sustainable ecotourism in protected areas.