Metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry: science mapping of the current and future trends

Purpose – This study performs a science mapping approach based on bibliometric analysis of the metaverse and its associated technology in tourism and hospitality. As an immersive technology, metaverse has penetrated various segments of human life and business activities. This digital transformation...

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Main Authors: Nazim Hanis Zainal Abidin, Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi, Walton Wider, Wan Muhammad Noor Sarbani Mat Daud, Rusnifaezah Musa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Tourism Futures
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JTF-05-2024-0089/full/pdf
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author Nazim Hanis Zainal Abidin
Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi
Walton Wider
Wan Muhammad Noor Sarbani Mat Daud
Rusnifaezah Musa
author_facet Nazim Hanis Zainal Abidin
Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi
Walton Wider
Wan Muhammad Noor Sarbani Mat Daud
Rusnifaezah Musa
author_sort Nazim Hanis Zainal Abidin
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – This study performs a science mapping approach based on bibliometric analysis of the metaverse and its associated technology in tourism and hospitality. As an immersive technology, metaverse has penetrated various segments of human life and business activities. This digital transformation phenomenon has also penetrated tourism and hospitality in mixed reality, comprising virtual, augmented and extended reality. Design/methodology/approach – The knowledge structure of the past and future trends in the sector’s metaverse application is analyzed to present the topological and temporal structure by a science mapping approach. Findings – Findings show that current and emerging trends are related to tourism mobilities, cultural and heritage tourism, digital landscape transformation and motivation to adopt virtual reality. At the same time, future trends suggest three themes related to the transformation of the tourism industry through the metaverse: immersive heritage exploration, technology adoption in metaverse tourism. Research limitations/implications – Metaverse technology will continue impacting tourism services and product offerings. Stakeholders and players in the tourism sector need to adapt to the development of metaverse technology to stay competitive and relevant in today’s digital environment. Originality/value – Through a science mapping approach, this study offers a crucial temporal and structural understanding of the metaverse in tourism phenomenon.
format Article
id doaj-art-d6c00648100c44c9958e94cd5539b4fb
institution OA Journals
issn 2055-5911
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language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Emerald Publishing
record_format Article
series Journal of Tourism Futures
spelling doaj-art-d6c00648100c44c9958e94cd5539b4fb2025-08-20T01:50:41ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Tourism Futures2055-59112055-592X2025-05-0111217118610.1108/JTF-05-2024-0089Metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry: science mapping of the current and future trendsNazim Hanis Zainal Abidin0Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi1Walton Wider2Wan Muhammad Noor Sarbani Mat Daud3Rusnifaezah Musa4Faculty of Industrial Management, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Gambang, MalaysiaFaculty of Industrial Management, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Gambang, MalaysiaFaculty of Business and Communications, INTI International University, Nilai, MalaysiaFaculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Kuantan, MalaysiaFaculty of Industrial Management, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Gambang, MalaysiaPurpose – This study performs a science mapping approach based on bibliometric analysis of the metaverse and its associated technology in tourism and hospitality. As an immersive technology, metaverse has penetrated various segments of human life and business activities. This digital transformation phenomenon has also penetrated tourism and hospitality in mixed reality, comprising virtual, augmented and extended reality. Design/methodology/approach – The knowledge structure of the past and future trends in the sector’s metaverse application is analyzed to present the topological and temporal structure by a science mapping approach. Findings – Findings show that current and emerging trends are related to tourism mobilities, cultural and heritage tourism, digital landscape transformation and motivation to adopt virtual reality. At the same time, future trends suggest three themes related to the transformation of the tourism industry through the metaverse: immersive heritage exploration, technology adoption in metaverse tourism. Research limitations/implications – Metaverse technology will continue impacting tourism services and product offerings. Stakeholders and players in the tourism sector need to adapt to the development of metaverse technology to stay competitive and relevant in today’s digital environment. Originality/value – Through a science mapping approach, this study offers a crucial temporal and structural understanding of the metaverse in tourism phenomenon.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JTF-05-2024-0089/full/pdfMetaverseTourismHospitalityScience mappingVirtual realityAugmented reality
spellingShingle Nazim Hanis Zainal Abidin
Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi
Walton Wider
Wan Muhammad Noor Sarbani Mat Daud
Rusnifaezah Musa
Metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry: science mapping of the current and future trends
Journal of Tourism Futures
Metaverse
Tourism
Hospitality
Science mapping
Virtual reality
Augmented reality
title Metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry: science mapping of the current and future trends
title_full Metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry: science mapping of the current and future trends
title_fullStr Metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry: science mapping of the current and future trends
title_full_unstemmed Metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry: science mapping of the current and future trends
title_short Metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry: science mapping of the current and future trends
title_sort metaverse in tourism and hospitality industry science mapping of the current and future trends
topic Metaverse
Tourism
Hospitality
Science mapping
Virtual reality
Augmented reality
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JTF-05-2024-0089/full/pdf
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AT waltonwider metaverseintourismandhospitalityindustrysciencemappingofthecurrentandfuturetrends
AT wanmuhammadnoorsarbanimatdaud metaverseintourismandhospitalityindustrysciencemappingofthecurrentandfuturetrends
AT rusnifaezahmusa metaverseintourismandhospitalityindustrysciencemappingofthecurrentandfuturetrends