Revisiting the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis in the MENA Region: The Roles of International Tourist Arrivals, Energy Consumption and Trade Openness

Zahed Ghaderi (), Behnaz Saboori () and Mana Khoshkam
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Zahed Ghaderi: Department of Tourism, College of Arts and Social Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Seeb 123, Oman
Mana Khoshkam: Department of Management, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Islamic Azad University, West Tehran Branch, Tehran 1468763785, Iran

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: This paper employed advanced panel methods to examine the effects of international tourist arrivals on CO 2 emissions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the period of 1995–2018. To analyze the predictive power of tourist arrivals for CO 2 emissions, the panel Granger non-causality test was employed. Employing the common correlated effects mean group estimator showed that tourist arrival reduces CO 2 emissions, while energy consumption and trade openness are the main contributors of CO 2 emissions. Results also showed that although first-generation estimators confirmed the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, according to the CCE-MG estimator, an inverted U-shaped association between economic progress and CO 2 emissions does not exist. Furthermore, the null hypothesis of non-Granger causality from tourist arrivals to CO 2 emissions was rejected. The findings suggest taking a more sustainable approach to tourism development and energy conservation in the long run.

Keywords: international tourist arrivals; MENA region; CO 2 emissions; energy consumption; cross-sectional dependence; trade openness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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