As one of the world's most dynamic industries, tourism is recognized as a pivotal component for achieving sustainable development goals and fostering positive socio-economic transformations. In parallel with industry advancements, academic publications serve as crucial platforms for sharing novel research findings, exchanging ideas, and identifying challenges in tourism development. This study focuses on a content and genealogical analysis of scholarly articles published in the Journal of Tourism and Development, a prominent voice in the tourism field of Iran. The aim is to identify salient patterns in intellectual and thematic evolution, alongside the influence of social structures. The findings indicate a growth in article publication within this journal, signaling its quantitative and qualitative maturation. In this journal, Researchers from the University of Tehran and Allameh Tabataba'i University emerged as leaders in authorship and collaborative endeavors. In papers, while quantitative methods have historically dominated, there's a discernible shift towards the adoption of qualitative and mixed methodologies. Studies focus on the regional level, with the attraction, service and accommodation pillars being most frequently addressed., macro-environmental social factors exerted the most significant influence on these research undertakings. Thematically, the findings reveal that relative shifts in topics reflect the adaptability of research to socio-economic developments. Researchers are actively seeking to provide new analytical frameworks for contemporary tourism typologies. , this analysis provides a foundation for revisiting discursive frameworks and existing relationships in the formulation of research concepts. It empowers journal contributors to leverage a comprehensive perspective when formulating research agendas and knowledge development policies.