Tourism Development and Sustainable Green Growth: Evidence From the Top 10 International Tourist-Receiving Economies

Abstract

The relationship between tourism development and economic growth has been extensively studied; however, its impact on green growth remains unexplored. Unlike previous studies, this study contributes to the literature by investigating the nexus between international tourism development and green growth across the top 10 international tourist-receiving economies from 1990 to 2021. Employing the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR), this research provides a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the differential effects of tourism development, transportation, human capital, and green innovation on green growth. The findings reveal that increasing tourist arrivals negatively impact green growth, primarily due to resource depletion, waste generation, and environmental degradation. Similarly, the transportation sector shows a significant negative association with green growth. Moreover, an increase in human capital and green innovation significantly promotes green growth. The findings offer practical implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders, emphasizing the need for balanced strategies that align tourism expansion with environmental sustainability objectives.