This study explores the intersection of ethical values with sustainability, specifically in the context of ethical tourism and responsible tourism. Ethical principles have proven effective in promoting mindfulness among tourists, residents, and stakeholders in the tourism industry. Utilizing a bibliometric approach, the research analyzes scholarly articles from 2000 to 2023, focusing on keywords such as responsible tourism, ethical values, ethical tourism and sustainability. Relevant documents were retrieved from the Web of Science database, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 146 articles were selected for in-depth analysis. Citation metrics and occurrences were examined across dimensions like authorship, institutional affiliations, countries of origin, keywords, publication sources, and document types. The findings reveal a significant concentration of publications from China on the topic of responsible tourism and sustainability. The study also highlights the role of ethical values in promoting responsible tourism practices, particularly in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Destination Social Responsibility (DSR), and suggests further exploration of their integration into diverse religious and ethical circuits for future research.