Research hotspots, emerging patterns, and intellectual structure of homestay tourism: a bibliometric analysis

Over the past 15 years, the examination of homestay tourism has expanded significantly, integrating with a number of academic disciplines including marketing, management, and economics. Throughout the past fifteen years, studies on homestay tourism have increased significantly, intertwining with numerous disciplines of study such as marketing, management, and economics. The present paper provides an outline of the growth of the homestay tourism literature released in 134 peer-reviewed papers during the previous 15 years (2005–2023). We realized the presence of six research clusters focusing on the following main areas of study using bibliometric analysis: host–guest relationship and roles, rural community development and empowerment, challenges of the homestay program, contribution and perceived impacts of homestay, motivations of homestay tourists, and authenticity in tourism establishments. We chose and assessed the most significant contributions in every domain and highlighted developing philosophical concepts and standards of excellence. Furthermore, the study has assisted researchers in identifying prospective study subjects that have received less attention. As a consequence, we developed multiple study initiatives for filling up the current voids.