A bibliometric analysis of intellectual capital research in the hospitality and tourism business setting

Intellectual capital (IC) strategically matters to hospitality and tourism businesses in which intangible, knowledge-based resources are the key to their competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable value creation. Addressing a knowledge gap in the subject, this study conducted a bibliometric analysis of the IC research in hospitality and tourism business settings to provide a general overview of the developmental trends of studies in this area. The results show that IC research in hospitality and tourism settings gained momentum over the past decade and is now expanding. Scholarly interest in this research is emerging globally, with the United States leading the way. Social and human capital factors are the most investigated IC forms as core, interconnected sources of innovation. Emerging topics, including sustainability, green IC, and strategic approach, indicate an interdisciplinary direction of IC research in hospitality and tourism focused on strategic management of knowledge resources. Implications and future research avenues are proposed.