Sustainability in the MICE industry: a bibliometric analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51599/is.2026.10.01.03Keywords:
MICE industry, sustainability, knowledge mapping, research hotspots.Abstract
Purpose. This study aims to systematically review and analyse scientific literature on sustainability in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry published between 2016 and 2025.
Results. Through a visualised analysis of 110 core documents, this study reveals a significant growth trajectory in the field of MICE sustainability over the past decade, with a notable surge in publications since 2019, indicating rapid expansion in both depth and breadth of research. The United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Australia emerged as the most active and influential countries in terms of publications and centrality, while the Journal of Sustainable Tourism led as the most prolific journal with 25 articles, establishing itself as a key academic platform in this domain. Research coverage spanned the environmental (34 articles), social (39 articles), and economic (12 articles) pillars of sustainability; however, a prevailing focus on single dimensions was observed, highlighting a scarcity of integrated systemic research across all three. The evolution of research hotspots shifted from earlier themes of management and policy towards more recent concerns such as participant perceptions, green quality, and social innovation.
Scientific novelty. The novelty of this research primarily lies in its cross-dimensional comprehensive analytical perspective. Unlike previous literature reviews that often confined themselves to environmental sustainability, this study integrates the environmental, social, and economic pillars into a unified bibliometric framework, offering a more holistic and balanced knowledge map. Furthermore, the research demonstrates significant foresight, with its time span extending to 2025, capturing emerging trends in the post-pandemic era where digital transformation and sustainability are deeply intertwined within the MICE industry. The study also explicitly identifies, for the first time, the potential evolutionary paths and application values of nascent technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in driving green transitions within the industry, thereby providing new avenues for theoretical construction in this field.
Practical value. On a practical level, this research provides essential insights for stakeholders within the MICE industry. Firstly, it provides an evidence-based management framework for event organisers and policymakers, underscoring the imperative of reducing negative environmental impacts through green certifications and carbon footprint management (e.g., the “three-hub model”). Secondly, the study highlights that enhancing participants’ “green perceived quality” significantly boosts their willingness to support sustainable initiatives, offering theoretical backing for corporate brand marketing and social responsibility strategies. Lastly, the research encourages the industry to actively adopt digital tools (such as carbon credit systems and social media engagement) to foster pro-environmental behaviours among the public, thereby facilitating a substantive transition of MICE activities from traditional models to sustainable ones.
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