Accessible tourism and the sustainable development goals: mapping the evolution of disability inclusion in global tourism

Purpose This study aims to examine the intellectual structure and recent evolution of accessible tourism research within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although accessible tourism is increasingly recognized as both a human right and a catalyst for inclusive development, its integration into sustainable governance remains conceptually fragmented and operationally underdeveloped. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a PRISMA-guided bibliometric review of 814 English-language articles indexed in Scopus between 2021 and 2025. Using VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix R-studio, the analysis maps publication trends, geographic distribution, collaboration networks, and thematic clusters to uncover the structural patterns and research trajectories of accessible tourism within the sustainability agenda. Findings Results indicate that accessible tourism has evolved from a niche concern into a structurally embedded component of sustainability discourse. The intellectual landscape is organized around three interconnected dimensions: (1) global normative frameworks linking accessibility with SDGs and rights-based development, (2) destination-level implementation emphasizing universal design and inclusive governance and (3) human-centered outcomes focusing on quality of life and wellbeing. However, significant gaps persist in the operationalization of accessibility indicators within SDG monitoring systems, the integration of inclusive smart tourism technologies, and the representation of diverse disability experiences, particularly in Global South contexts. Originality/value This study offers the first PRISMA-guided bibliometric synthesis of accessible tourism and SDGs in the post-pandemic period, advancing a sustainability–inclusion–digital transformation framework that positions accessible tourism as a structural pillar of equitable and sustainable destination development.