Researching vulnerable populations in hospitality and tourism: a methodological review

Despite growing academic and industry interest in vulnerable populations, methodological development within hospitality and tourism (H&T) research has remained limited. This study addresses this gap by systematically reviewing the methodologies used in studies of vulnerable populations in the H&T context. Akin to the analysis of 150 articles published in SSCI-indexed journals, the review examines how vulnerability is conceptualized and investigated across economic, physical, cognitive, social, and cultural dimensions. The findings indicate a strong reliance on conventional data collection approaches, primarily structured surveys and standard interview techniques, often applied without sufficient adaptation to participants’ specific capacities or vulnerabilities. Although qualitative and participatory methods are discussed in the literature, their practical implementation remains inconsistent. Key gaps include the limited inclusion of cognitively vulnerable individuals’ perspectives and the scarcity of longitudinal research designs. The study underscores the ethical importance of inclusive methodological practices and highlights the need for more flexible and interdisciplinary approaches.