A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND LOCAL TRADITIONAL TOURISM: KNOWLEDGE SYNTHESIS FROM 2016-2026
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Abstract
Background
In the digital era, information technology plays a significant role in tourism development by facilitating the communication of the values of historical and cultural attractions, enhancing tourists’ learning experiences, and supporting the sustainable conservation of tourism resources
Purpose
This study aims to synthesize scholarly knowledge on historical tourism, cultural tourism, and local traditional tourism in order to identify major research directions and conceptual developments within the field.
Methods
This research employed a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA framework. Data were retrieved from internationally recognized, peer-reviewed academic databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, as well as research dissemination platforms such as SpringerLink and Taylor & Francis Online, and academic publishers including MDPI and SAGE Journals. Search terms included cultural tourism, heritage tourism, heritage interpretation, community participation, and creative tourism. Through a systematic inclusion-exclusion screening process, 60 articles met the selection criteria and were subsequently subjected to data extraction, content analysis, and thematic analysis in order to identify research trends, major themes, and knowledge gaps within this field.
Results
The findings reveal that the selected studies can be categorized into five principal themes: heritage interpretation; sustainability and cultural identity; community participation and resilience; creative tourism and experiential engagement; and tourism policy, management, and innovation.
Conclusion
This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of scholarly knowledge, emerging research trends, and academic gaps, thereby offering a valuable foundation for future research directions, policy formulation, and the sustainable management of cultural tourism.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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