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The Carbon Emission Reduction Effect of Tourism Economy and Its Formation Mechanism: An Empirical Study of China’s 92 Tourism-Dependent Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Yun Tong

    (School of Tourism, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

  • Rui Zhang

    (School of Business, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China)

  • Biao He

    (School of Tourism, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
    Hainan Province Holistic Tourism Research Base, Haikou 570228, China
    Academician Desheng Wu Station of Hainan Province, Haikou 570228, China)

Abstract

The tourism economy is regarded as an effective way to realize regional sustainable development. Hence, it is of great significance to explore whether and how tourism economy can alleviate regional carbon emission intensity. To this end, a structural equation model (SEM) reflecting the multiple pathways of the carbon emission reduction effect of tourism economy was constructed based on 92 tourism-dependent cities in China, and the existence and formation mechanism of the carbon emission reduction effect of tourism economy were empirically tested. The main findings are as follows: (1) The tourism economy has a significant carbon emission reduction effect in China. Although the direct impact of tourism economy on carbon emission intensity is significantly positive, the indirect impact is significantly negative and stronger than the direct impact. (2) The carbon emission reduction effect of tourism economy presents multiple pathways characteristics. There are single intermediary pathways such as Tourism Economy → Environmental Regulation → Carbon Emission Intensity, Tourism Economy → Opening-Up → Carbon Emission Intensity, and dual intermediary pathways such as Tourism Economy → Opening-Up → Industrial Development → Carbon Emission Intensity, Tourism Economy → Opening-Up → Innovation Capacity → Carbon Emission Intensity. (3) The formation mechanism of the carbon emission reduction effect of tourism economy presents obvious spatial heterogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Yun Tong & Rui Zhang & Biao He, 2022. "The Carbon Emission Reduction Effect of Tourism Economy and Its Formation Mechanism: An Empirical Study of China’s 92 Tourism-Dependent Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1824-:d:742839
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    5. Balsalobre-Lorente, Daniel & Abbas, Jaffar & He, Chang & Pilař, Ladislav & Shah, Syed Ale Raza, 2023. "Tourism, urbanization and natural resources rents matter for environmental sustainability: The leading role of AI and ICT on sustainable development goals in the digital era," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    6. Wang, Jia & Tian, Guixian, 2023. "Driver or a Barrier to the Economy: Natural Resources a blessing or a curse for Developed Economies?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    7. Yuanyuan Wu & Zhanhua Jia & Tingting Yu, 2022. "Tourism and Green Development: Analysis of Linear and Non-Linear Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, November.

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