Tourism, Democracy and Economic Growth in Africa

Toyo Dossou (), Simplice Asongu, Kihumuro Jotham () and Symphorien Zogbasse ()
Additional contact information
Toyo Dossou: Cotonou, Benin
Kihumuro Jotham: Beijing, China
Symphorien Zogbasse: Cotonou, Benin

No 26/013, Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. from African Governance and Development Institute.

Abstract: While numerous studies have explored the determinants of economic growth, research on the impact of tourism and democracy on economic growth remains debated in both developed and developing countries. Furthermore, studies examining the moderating role of democracy in the tourism-economic growth relationship are particularly scarce. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-8) by 2030 requires a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between tourism, democracy, and economic growth. This paper addresses this gap by analyzing the moderating effect of democracy on the tourism-economic growth nexus in Africa from 2000 to 2020. Using the panel corrected standard errors (PCSE) estimation technique, the study finds that tourism fosters economic growth. Moreover, democracy positively moderates the impact of tourism on economic growth in Africa, with the marginal effect of tourism varying depending on the level of democracy. Accordingly, there are positive synergies from the interaction between democracy and tourism because while tourism promotes economic growth, democracy complements tourism to further promote economic growth. The study discusses the policy implications of these findings and suggests potential policy measures.

Keywords: Tourism; Democracy; Economic Growth; PCSE; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 2026-01
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http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/13.Tou ... Growth-in-Africa.pdf Revised version, 2026 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Tourism, Democracy and Economic Growth in Africa (2026)
Working Paper: Tourism, Democracy and Economic Growth in Africa (2026)
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