Digitalization means green? Linking the digital economy to environmental performance in the tourism industry

Lingling Jiang and Zhike Lv

Tourism Economics, 2025, vol. 31, issue 4, 593-610

Abstract: Considering that carbon emissions are one of the main causes of climate change, it is increasingly urgent to reduce CO 2 emissions from tourism. This study aims to scientifically assess whether the digital economy can mitigate the negative environmental effects of tourism. Based on a two-way fixed effects model for a global sample of 100 countries from 2003 to 2020, this study highlights the tourism-CO 2 emissions nexus is negatively moderated by the digital economy. Specifically, while tourism development results in increased CO 2 emissions, our research shows that the digital economy can mitigate this negative impact. Furthermore, heterogeneity analyses reveal that this moderating effect is particularly pronounced in high-income countries. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers in fostering the growth of the digital economy in support of sustainable tourism development.

Keywords: tourism; CO2 emissions; the digital economy; environmental sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:toueco:v:31:y:2025:i:4:p:593-610

DOI: 10.1177/13548166241273638

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