Social Media eWOM Impact on Tourism A PRISMA-Based Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Abstract

HRMARS - Based on the PRISMA framework, this study conducts a systematic review of 193 peer-reviewed scientific articles published between 2008 and 2024, comprehensively examining the impact of social media electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) on tourism. Through bibliometric analysis and content analysis, this paper synthesizes the evolution of research themes, theoretical applications, and methodological characteristics in this field. The findings indicate that: ?The impact of social media eWOM on tourism exhibits multidimensional and whole-process characteristics, encompassing cognitive, affective, and behavioral intention dimensions, and extends to hospitality management domains such as hotels, catering, medical tourism, ecotourism, and heritage tourism. Among these, trust, attitude, and emotion serve as key mediating variables, while gender, cultural distance, and psychological distance play significant moderating roles;?Short videos, user-generated content (UGC), and digital marketing constitute the primary carriers, playing prominent roles in enhancing destination attractiveness and crisis management;? Theories and methods demonstrate diverse integration, with commonly employed frameworks including the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), predominantly utilizing quantitative methods combined with big data analytics. Future research should strengthen cross-cultural comparisons and studies on technological evolution, and focus on methodological innovations and technology-driven dynamics, thereby providing practical implications for digital marketing, reputation management, and sustainable destination development.