Destination food research: a bibliometric citation review (2000–2018)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the knowledge infrastructure of destination food research based on a systematic literature review. This bibliometric analysis involves authors, institutions, countries and co-citation networks and discloses trending developments in the field. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on 176 articles published in hospitality and tourism journals during the period 2000–2018 and bibliometric data downloaded from the ISI Web of Science. This review applies bibliometric analysis, citation network analysis and content analysis to examine the structure and networks of destination food knowledge so as to provide destination food researchers with a reference guide to the context, methods and focus of previous studies. Findings: The findings demonstrate the development and trends of destination food research. This is the first study to address the limitations of prior systematic literature reviews by applying network analysis to reveal the interrelated structures and properties of the destination food research domain. Practical implications: Practitioners can also discover trends in the design of development strategies, as well as identify extended themes that may be integrated with research in the field of destination food at present. Originality/value: As a summary of key characteristics, this report is a useful reference guide to previous studies for researchers. This study presents core content about the destination food field and identifies development trends within destination food research. Based on the results, further research directions are provided.