Nautical tourism is a long established and expanding form of tourism within the wider maritime tourism industry. This study addresses the blurred boundaries of this form of tourism and proposes an original definition. Then it explores economic and management related literature via a scoping review of 118 articles published in Scopus-listed journals from 2001 to 2020. Findings confirm a growing attention to nautical tourism over the years but with relatively limited research agendas. Literature often concentrates on very specific issues while ignoring essential research areas related to the economic relevance and impact of nautical tourism, the management and marketing issue for nautical tourism firms and the traits and behaviour of nautical tourists. Research is also geographically concentrated: three-quarters of authors are affiliated with institutions in the United States, Croatia, Spain and Italy, which form also the most investigated regions. This paves the way for further studies to fill the gaps in the literature and stimulates a stronger structuring of the research field and of the community of scholars who are devoted to it. Policy makers and managers in nautical tourism should be aware of the boundaries and peculiarities of this form of tourism, to avoid conflict or confusion with other types of sea- and coast-related tourism. By analysing the best practices from the most developed nautical regions, they should understand the potential contribution of nautical tourism to local development and the need for a cooperative and systemic approach with local stakeholders, to foster the sustainable development of nautical destinations and firms. Industry players should also increase their knowledge of the traits of nautical tourists, to identify the segment structure of the market and provide more tailored services. Finally, the small number of studies on the management and marketing of nautical tourism firms suggests a limited dialogue between academia and practitioners: a stricter cooperation could support further exploration of these issues, with mutual benefits. • The boundaries of nautical tourism within marine tourism are still blurred. • Nautical tourism has an important economic impact, widely explored in literature. • Sustainability and responsible behaviour are core areas in this field of research. • Important gaps in literature call for further studies in nautical tourism management. • Scholars and practitioners should cooperate to further explore management and marketing of nautical tourism firms.