Global Research Shifts Toward Eco-Cultural Marine Tourism Management, Bibliometric Study Finds

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FORMOSA NEWS - Denpasar - Marine tourism research worldwide is increasingly focused on balancing environmental protection with cultural preservation, according to a new bibliometric study published in 2026 in the Formosa Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. The study was conducted by Made Ika Prastyadewi of Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar, together with Putu Yusi Pramandari and Ni Nyoman Yuliarmi from Universitas Udayana. By mapping two decades of international scientific publications, the research reveals how eco-culture-based marine tourism management has become a central theme in sustainability, policy, and coastal development debates.

The findings matter as coastal regions face growing pressure from mass tourism, climate change, and ecosystem degradation. Marine destinations are no longer evaluated only by their natural beauty, but also by how well they protect cultural heritage, support local communities, and ensure long-term economic resilience. This study shows that global scholarship is responding to those challenges with more integrated and interdisciplinary approaches.

Why eco-cultural marine tourism matters

Marine tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global tourism industry. Coastal and island destinations attract millions of visitors each year, generating income while also placing stress on fragile ecosystems and traditional ways of life. In response, policymakers and researchers have increasingly promoted eco-culture-based marine tourism, a framework that links environmental sustainability with cultural identity, community participation, and responsible governance.

Cultural ecosystem services—such as spiritual values, heritage, sense of place, and local knowledge—are now recognized as essential components of sustainable tourism. Ignoring these elements can lead to cultural commodification, social conflict, and the loss of local identity. The growing attention to eco-cultural approaches reflects wider global concerns about sustainable development, the blue economy, and climate resilience in coastal areas.

How the study mapped global research trends

Rather than examining a single destination or case study, the authors analyzed global publication patterns using bibliometric methods. They collected peer-reviewed articles from major international databases, including Scopus and Web of Science, and examined publication growth, country contributions, leading journals, citation patterns, and keyword networks.

The analysis used established bibliometric tools to visualize how research themes are connected and how they have evolved over time. This approach makes it possible to identify dominant topics, emerging research fronts, and gaps in the global knowledge base, without relying on technical or discipline-specific language.

Key findings at a glance

The bibliometric analysis highlights several clear trends:

1. Rapid growth after 2015

Scientific publications on eco-culture-based marine tourism management increased steadily over the past two decades, with a sharp rise after 2015. The strongest growth occurred in the last five years, reflecting heightened global concern about sustainability, climate change, and responsible tourism.

2. Shift from ecology-only to integrated approaches

Earlier studies focused mainly on coral reefs, marine protected areas, and carrying capacity. More recent research integrates ecological protection with cultural heritage, community-based management, and governance.

3. Dominant themes in the literature

Keyword mapping shows that ecosystem protection, cultural heritage, cultural ecosystem services, community participation, sustainable tourism, and the blue economy are central topics in current research.

4. Uneven global contributions

The United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, and China dominate publication output. Countries with rich cultural seascapes, particularly in Southeast Asia and other parts of the Global South, remain underrepresented despite growing contributions from Indonesia.

5. Strong interdisciplinary connections

The field increasingly links environmental science, cultural studies, economics, and public policy, signaling a mature and interconnected research domain.

Implications for policy and practice

The study’s findings have practical relevance beyond academia. For policymakers, the growing body of research supports tourism strategies that integrate environmental conservation with cultural preservation and community empowerment. Coastal management policies that overlook cultural values risk undermining both social legitimacy and long-term sustainability.

For tourism practitioners and local governments, eco-culture-based frameworks offer guidance on developing marine destinations that protect ecosystems while enhancing local livelihoods. Community-based tourism, heritage protection, and participatory governance are repeatedly identified as effective pathways to resilience.

The research also highlights opportunities for developing countries. Expanding research capacity and international collaboration could help ensure that culturally rich but vulnerable coastal regions are better represented in global knowledge production.

Author insights

According to Made Ika Prastyadewi from Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar, the growing integration of ecological and cultural perspectives marks an important shift in how marine tourism is understood. She emphasizes that “global research increasingly recognizes that sustainable marine tourism cannot be separated from cultural identity and community values, especially in coastal societies that depend on the sea for their livelihoods.”

This perspective aligns with broader sustainability debates, where tourism is seen not only as an economic activity but also as a social and cultural force that shapes human–environment relationships.

Looking ahead

The authors note that future research should move beyond mapping publication trends and focus more on real-world outcomes. There is a need for empirical studies that evaluate how eco-cultural principles are implemented in marine tourism policies and how they affect communities and ecosystems over time.

Comparative studies across regions, especially in underrepresented coastal areas, could provide deeper insights into what works and why. As climate change intensifies risks for marine destinations, eco-culture-based management is likely to play an even more critical role in shaping sustainable coastal futures.

Author Profile

Made Ika Prastyadewi, S.E., M.Sc.

Lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar. Her expertise includes sustainable tourism, marine tourism management, and socio-economic aspects of coastal development.

Source

Prastyadewi, M. I., Pramandari, P. Y., & Yuliarmi, N. N. (2026). Global Research Trends on Eco-Culture-Based Marine Tourism Management: A Bibliometric Analysis. Formosa Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 5 No. 1. DOI: 10.55927/fjmr.v5i1.677