Bibliometric Analysis of Islamic Tourism Research in Malaysia and Thailand: Publication Landscape and Research Patterns (1995-2025)

Abstrak

Islamic tourism has emerged as a significant domain within global tourism scholarship, reflecting the growing mobility of Muslim travellers and the increasing salience of religion in destination development. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of Islamic tourism research related to Malaysia and Thailand over 30 years (1995–2025). Using a dataset of 420 publications, the analysis examines longitudinal publication trends, author productivity, institutional affiliations, collaborative patterns, thematic evolution, and citation impact. The findings reveal an exponential growth in research output after 2010, with Malaysia accounting for the largest share of publications due to its Muslim majority context and established halal governance infrastructure, while Thailand’s research—though smaller in volume—demonstrates comparatively higher citation impact, reflecting scholarly interest in Muslim minority tourism settings. The analysis further identifies a concentration of knowledge production among a limited group of authors and institutions, alongside uneven international collaboration. Thematically, Islamic tourism scholarship has shifted from conceptual and definitional concerns toward service quality, halal governance, policy frameworks, and cultural adaptation. By systematically mapping the intellectual structure of Islamic tourism research across two contrasting national contexts, this study advances understanding of how religious tourism knowledge is produced, institutionalised, and diffused. The findings provide evidence-based implications for future research agendas, destination policy, and the theoretical positioning of Islamic tourism within tourism and religious studies.

Kata kunci

• Bibliometric Analysis
• Halal Tourism
• Islamic Tourism
• Malaysia
• Publication Trends
• Research Collaboration
• Thailand