From Consumption to Experience: A Bibliometric Study of Minimalism in Shaping Tourist Behaviour

Minimalism, Experiential tourism, Mindful consumption, Voluntary simplicity, Slow and responsible tourism

The growing importance of sustainability and environmental awareness positioned the minimalism paradigm in the tourism industry. Nowadays, travelers seek a clutter-free, peaceful journey, away from materialistic, fast tourism and its façade. This makes it essential to understand the intellectual theory and structure of minimalism. This study examines how the ideology of minimalism influences tourist behaviour and shapes the itineraries of tourism research. A bibliometric analysis of scholarly publications on minimalism and tourism from the Scopus database (2006 to mid-2026) was conducted on 10 June (N=392 articles). This study identifies themes, the most influential authors, the most impactful journals, and the leading countries using performance analysis and science mapping techniques. The finding reveals the interrelated patterns among sustainable consumption, slow tourism, mindful travel, well-being, happiness, and tourist behaviour.  This study further explores the emergence of new themes, such as ecotourism, voluntary simplicity, detox tourism, well-being, happiness, and responsible tourist behaviour. Existing study themes related to destination sustainability, tourist satisfaction, and values have evolved within the minimalist framework over time. This study also illustrates how minimalist values encourage tourists to experience nature rather than material possessions and to engage with local culture and destinations. By applying the ideology of minimalism to tourism, this research provided insight into how it shapes tourists' behaviour and guides their decisions. As people shift from a consumer-centric to an experience-centric approach, minimalism offers a valuable framework for promoting responsible, slow tourism.