Mental health research in tourism and hospitality: a horizon 2050 paper

Purpose This paper aims to cover mental health research related to tourism and hospitality, starting in 1984, and track its development until 2020. Relevant research published between 2020 and 2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic is also reviewed to determine how this research stream is evolving. Design/methodology/approach A detailed search of Scopus and Google Scholar yielded 4,790 mental health studies in tourism and hospitality; 102 were ultimately retained for systematic review. VOSviewer was used to visualize cluster analysis results. Findings Research on mental health in the context of tourism and hospitality is limited and can be classified into four themes. The most prominent involves mental health in relation to COVID-19. Thematic differences between studies published before and after the onset of the pandemic are also specified. The findings inform a critical reflection on the conceptual framework linking tourism and mental health, as well as potential research avenues, covering research populations, topics, methods, data sources and outcome measures. Practical implications This in-depth analysis of the extant literature provides a foundation for stakeholders to better understand, address and promote mental health in tourism and hospitality. Such insights can steer future research and enlighten industry practitioners, thus contributing to sustainable industry development. Originality/value This paper represents a pioneering effort to systematically review mental health studies in tourism and hospitality. It offers a holistic perspective and unique insights, bridging substantial knowledge gaps. This paper is also meant to prompt academics and practitioners to contemplate mental health-related research and practice.