The digital evolution of tourism: a bibliometric roadmap of sustainability-oriented technological developments (2000–2025)

Purpose The primary aim of this study is to examine the development of the concepts of digital transformation and sustainability in the tourism literature between 2000 and 2025, as well as their interaction with one another. The study aims to demonstrate, from a historical perspective, how technology has evolved from being merely an operational tool in tourism to a strategic one that serves sustainability objectives. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative bibliometric analysis method, encompassing performance analysis and science mapping techniques, was adopted for the research. A total of 1,016 academic documents obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases were analysed using the R-based Bibliometrix software. The dataset was examined using annual growth rates, citation analyses, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic evolution mapping techniques to visualise the intellectual structure of the field. Findings The findings indicate that the field has demonstrated a strong annual growth rate of 26.43% over the past 26 years. An average citation rate of 21.23% confirms the subject's high academic impact. It has been observed that the literature has evolved from an early focus on simple “information technologies” to sustainability-centred themes such as “smart destination management”, “artificial intelligence” and “twin transition” in the present day. Furthermore, it has been determined that the rate of international collaboration in this field, to which 2,989 authors have contributed, stands at 9.54%. Originality/value This study is one of the pioneering pieces of research examining the intersection of digitalisation and sustainability in tourism over a broad 26-year timeframe by combining the two most comprehensive databases (WoS and Scopus). By presenting the conceptual shifts in the literature in the form of a “roadmap”, it not only provides a theoretical foundation for researchers but also offers a practical guide for destination managers regarding technology-focused sustainability strategies.