Global Mapping of Community Based Tourism: A Bibliometric Review in the Field of Social Sciences

Community-based tourism has established itself as an essential strategy for promoting local development, socio-environmental sustainability, and cultural revaluation in rural and indigenous communities. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric review and graphical mapping analysis of scientific production on community-based tourism in the field of social sciences, with the purpose of identifying trends, research gaps, and future projections. The methodology applied integrates bibliometric and visual mapping techniques. A total of 420 publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science between 2000 and 2025 were reviewed, considering indicators of productivity, co-authorship, citation impact, and international collaboration networks. The graphical mapping analysis was developed using specialized software (VOSviewer), which allowed for the identification of thematic clusters, author centrality, and the evolution of lines of research associated with community-based tourism. The results show a progressive increase in academic production, with a particular focus on Latin American, African, and Asian studies. The graphic mapping reveals three main clusters: the first linked to sustainability and environmental conservation, the second related to community participation and governance, and the third focused on social economy and gender. Likewise, it was found that the most influential nodes correspond to authors who work at the intersection of tourism, territorial development, and social justice. Despite these advances, gaps were identified in the articulation of critical perspectives on structural inequalities, cultural commodification, and the use of digital technologies in community strengthening. Future lines of research suggest delving deeper into interregional comparative studies, integrating mixed methodologies for socio-environmental impact analysis, and exploring how digitization and community tourism can contribute to territorial resilience. These approaches will enrich the academic debate and serve as a basis for designing more inclusive and sustainable public policies.