The past scene of hospitality ethics: A citation analysis perspective

Abstract

The literature on ethics research in hospitality has significantly expanded in recent years. The objective of this study is to present a comprehensive overview of ethical research in the field of hospitality literature. This will facilitate insight into future developments by examining the past. A two-step approach is employed, comprising citation analysis, a bibliometric analysis technique, and a systematic review. The former is used to identify themes, which are then discussed in the latter. The citation analysis revealed five main themes of the domain: environmental concerns, organisational citizenship behaviour, reputation management and ethical leadership. Environmental concerns were examined from two perspectives: the viewpoint of hotels and the environmental behaviours of tourists and consumers. Subsequently, a systematic review was conducted using the TCM framework (theory/context/methodology) with the objective of identifying the most prominent theories, contexts, and methodological issues associated with each theme. The issue has predominantly been discussed using quantitative analysis and social-based theories. Research has been mainly conducted in the US and the EU. Environmental ethics is likely to remain a significant area of concern in the future. This study offers a perspective that can aid researchers in developing future studies on ethics and help practitioners enhance the ethical climate of the industry. © The Author(s) 2024.