Mapping Faithful Pathways: A Conceptual Analysis of Religious Tourism and Regional Development
Religious tourism is a growing sector that interconnects faith, hospitality services, and environmental sustainability, contributing significantly to regional development. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of scholarly research on religious tourism, with a particular focus on the role of faith, hospitality services, and environmental sustainability in enhancing the religious tourism experience. Grounded in the Push–Pull Theory, the study conceptualizes religious tourism as an interaction between internal motivations (push factors), such as spiritual fulfilment and religious obligations, and external destination attributes (pull factors), including sacred sites, cultural heritage, and service quality. The study aims to (1) examine the significance of these factors in shaping religious tourism experiences, (2) categorize existing literature based on journal and author contributions, and (3) analyse the geographical distribution of research to understand country-wise trends and developments. Using bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer and R-based packages, this study evaluates publication trends, influential authors, top-cited journals, and country-wise contributions to religious tourism research. The findings provide valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of faith-based tourism and highlight the interplay between motivational drivers, service quality, and sustainability practices. The outcomes suggest recommendations for future research directions and policy implications to foster sustainable religious tourism and balanced regional development globally.