Creative tourism, as the third generation of tourism, emphasizes experience-based activities, innovation, and cultural interaction, and is considered a novel approach to sustainable destination development. Despite the growing body of literature in this field, a comprehensive and systematic synthesis of the components influencing the development of creative tourism at the international level is still lacking. The present study aims to systematically identify and analyze the key components affecting the development of creative tourism from 2000 to 2025. This research was conducted using a systematic review and documentary analysis approach. Searches were performed in Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Emerald, Magiran, ISC, and RICeST. In the identification stage, approximately 2,000 records were retrieved; after removing duplicates and screening titles and abstracts, 230 articles were selected for full-text assessment. Finally, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 56 eligible articles were subjected to the final analysis. A three-stage coding procedure (open, axial, and selective coding) revealed eight key components influencing creative tourism development: innovation and creativity, cultural, social, economic, physical, flexibility and adaptability, leadership and management, and risk-taking. Among these, innovation and cultural dimensions showed the highest frequency (36 articles), while risk-taking had the lowest (8 articles). The temporal trend analysis also showed a significant increase in publications after 2021. By providing a comprehensive analytical framework and identifying research gaps, this study offers valuable insights for policymakers, destination managers, and researchers seeking to develop innovation-driven models for creative tourism.