Abstract
Questions persist on the relationship between tourism dependence and economic growth in ethnic tourism areas. This study addresses such gaps by constructing a threshold regression model based on socio-economic data from 2006 to 2019 for nine sites in Enshi Prefecture of central China. ArcGIS and other open-source data were also used to visualize changing tourism resources in the region. Findings suggest that tourism dependence (the ratio of tourism-based GDP to overall GDP) significantly promotes economic growth in ethnic minority areas. However, the positive influence of tourism dependence on economic growth appears dynamic and non-linear — rising at first before falling when tourism dependence exceeded a threshold of 34%, with effects varying by site and year. Methods and findings make crucial theoretical contributions to understanding tourism dependence and poverty alleviation linkages. This paper also highlights the importance of political support and balanced investment in diverse industries to minimize decreasing returns beyond tourism dependence thresholds in destinations worldwide.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Anan W, Ian C (2008) Is tourism-based development good for the poor? J Policy Model 30(6): 929–955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2008.02.006
Antonakakis N, Dragouni M, Eeckels B, et al. (2017) The tourism and economic growth enigma: examining an ambiguous relationship through multiple prisms. J Travel Res. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287517744671
Biddulph R (2015) Limits to mass tourism’s effects in rural peripheries. Ann Tour Res 50: 98–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2014.11.011
Bruce EH (1999) Threshold effects in non-dynamic panels: estimation, testing, and inference. J Econom 93(2): 345–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4076(99)00025-1
Butler RW (1980) The concept of a tourist area cycle of evolution: implications for management of resources. Can Geogr 24(1): 5–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1980.tb00970.x
Canh NP, Thanh SD (2020) Domestic tourism spending and economic vulnerability. Ann Tour Res 85: 103063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103063
Champion M (2008) Water hogs on the ski slopes. WSJ 6: 1–23.
Croes R, Ridderstaat J, Bąk M, et al. (2021) Tourism specialization, economic growth, human development and transition economies: the case of Poland. Tour Manag 82: 104181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104181
Cui YJ, Sun G (2012) The effect of financial development on the poverty alleviation: the evidence from China. J Financial Res 11: 116–127. (In Chinese)
Deng TT, Wang DD, Liu, BR (2017) Application of “resource curse” theory in tourism studies: review and implications. Tourism Tribune 32(11): 60–68. (In Chinese)
Enshi News Network (2012) Review on the development of Enshi ecological culture tourism. (In Chinese) http://www.enshi.cn/2012/1228/293142.shtml (Accessed on 20 December 2021)
Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Bureau of Statistics (2020) Enshi Prefecture National Economic and Social Development Statistical Bulletin 2019. (In Chinese) http://tjj.enshi.gov.cn/xxgk/gkml/tjxx/tjgb/eszndtj/202004/t20200410346100.shtml(Accessed on 20 December 2021)
Fahimi A, Akadiri SS, Seraj M, et al. (2018) Testing the role of tourism and human capital development in economic growth: a panel causality study of micro states. Tour Manag Perspect 28: 62–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.08.004
Fayissa B, Nsiah C, Tadesse B (2008) Impact of tourism on economic growth and development in Africa. Tourism Econ 14(4): 807–818. https://doi.org/10.1177/056943451005500210
Gong J, Shapovalova A, Wei L, et al. (2021) Resident support in China’s new national parks: an extension of the Prism of Sustainability. Curr Issues Tour: 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.1890699
Gu XM, Chen YM, Pan SY (2018) Economic policy uncertainty and innovation: evidence from listed companies in China. Economic Research Journal 53(2): 109–123. (In Chinese)
Gunduz L, Hatemi JA (2005) Is the tourism-led growth hypothesis valid for Turkey? Econ Lett 12(8): 49–504. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504850500109865
Guo WT (2019) Study on the plight and countermeasures of poverty alleviation in western minority areas. Journal of Tianjin Normal University (Social Sciences) 5: 73–80. (In Chinese)
He ZL, Zhang ZL, Sun H (2018) On the relationship between the specialization of China’s tourism and economic growth. Journal of Xinjiang Normal University (Edition of Philosophy and Social Sciences) 39(3): 151–160. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.14100/j.cnki.65-1039/g4.20180110.001
Hu FS (2018) Promoting financial support for tourism poverty alleviation to enhance the hematopoietic capacity of poverty-stricken areas. China Tourism News pp3–16. (In Chinese)
Jeyacheya J, Hampton MP (2020) Wishful thinking or wise policy? theorising tourism-led inclusive growth: supply chains and host communities. World Dev 131: 104960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.104960
Khan A, Bibi S, Lorenzo A, et al. (2020) Tourism and development in developing economies: a policy implication perspective. Sustainability 12(4): 1618. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041618
Knight DW (2018) An institutional analysis of local strategies for enhancing pro-poor tourism outcomes in Cuzco, Peru J Sustain 26(4): 631–648. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2017.1377720
Knight DW, Cottrell SP, Pickering K, et al. (2017) Tourism-based development in Cusco, Peru: comparing national discourses with local realities. J Sustain 25(3): 344–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2016.1213269
Knight DW, Xiong L, Gong J (2020) Impact of COVID-19: Research note on tourism and hospitality sectors in the first epicenter of Hubei, China. Int J Contemp Hosp Manag 32(12): 3705–3719. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-04-2020-0278
Lan HX, Zhao XY (2020) Poverty alleviation effect of China’s tourism development based on panel threshold model. Arid Land Geography 43(1):248–259. (In Chinese)
Lee CC, Chang CP (2008) Tourism development and economic growth: a closer look at panels. Tour Manag 29(1): 180–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.02.013
Li XJ (2008) Economic geography (Second Edition). Higher Education Press. pp 156–205. (In Chinese)
Li YJ, Knight DW, Luo WT, et al. (2020) Elite circulation in Chinese ethnic tourism. Ann Tour Res 85: 103030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103030
Li YJ, Li CR, Zeng HC, et al. (2018). Study of tourism attractions spatial structure in upland ethnic tourism destination: With a case of Enshi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture. Journal of Guizhou University (Natural Sciences) 35(5): 21–30. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.15958/j.cnki.gdxbzrb.2018.05.05
Lin S, Zhao L (2020) Study on the threshold effect of urbanization on the competitiveness of tourism industry. Tourism Tribune 35(11): 27–41. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.19765/j.cnki.1002-5006.2020.11.008
Liu C (2020a) All poverty-stricken counties in China have been lifted out of poverty. (In Chinese) http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2020-11/23/content_5563620.htm (Accessed on 23 November 2021)
Liu C (2020b) Tourism specialization, spatial spillover and regional economic growth. Statistics & Decision 36(21): 129–133. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13546/j.cnki.tjyjc.2020.21.026
Matthew JW, Harold JG (2000) Local economic impacts of dragon tourism in Indonesia. Ann Tour Res 27(3): 559–576. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(99)00088-2
Meng MX, Cao XG, Zhang XL (2019) Does the special economic zones policy affect industrial agglomeration in China: based on the agglomeration perspective of the cross administrative boundary. China Industrial Economics 11: 79–97. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.19581/j.cnki.ciejournal.2019.11.005
Mitchell J, Ashley C (2009) Tourism and poverty reduction: pathways to prosperity. Tourism and Poverty Reduction: Pathways to Prosperity. pp 2–10. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781849774635
Nie M, Wang X, Qiu SM (2021) China’s tourism poverty alleviation research: stage characteristics, evolution law and enlightenment. Ecol Econ 37(10): 129–136. (In Chinese)
Parrilla JC, Font AR, Nadal JR (2007) Tourism and long-term growth a Spanish perspective. Ann Tour Res 34(3): 709–726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2007.02.003
Puvaneswaran K, Sarjit SG, Sridar R, et al. (2017) Measuring sustainable indigenous tourism indicators: a case of Mah Meri ethnic group in Carey Island, Malaysia. Sustainability 9(7): 1256. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9071256
Sharpley R, Naidoo P (2010) Tourism and poverty reduction: the case of Mauritius. Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development 7(2):145–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790531003737169
Soukiazis E, Proenca S (2008) Tourism as an alternative source of regional growth in Portugal: a panel data analysis at NUTS II and III level. Port Econ J 7(1): 43–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1025800700220
Su JR, Liao JZ (2009) Empirical analysis of financial development, income distribution and poverty: based on dynamic panel data. Finance & Economics 12: 10–16. (In Chinese)
Taylor JE (2001) Tourism to the Cook Islands retrospective and prospective. Cornell Hotel Restaur Adm Q 42(2): 70–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-8804(01)80019-7
Wang JW, Zhang LY, Wang GQ (2022) Tourism-led poverty alleviation, subjective well-being, and community participation: a mixed model of mediating and moderating effects. Tourism Tribune: 1–23. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.19765/j.cnki.1002-5006.2021.00.018
Wang MK, Liu YP (2018) Threshold effect of tourism development on urban-rural income gap: based on the provincial panel data in China. Inquiry into Economic Issues 12: 30–40. (In Chinese)
Wu BJ, Wang L, Qin ZW (2020) The action of vitalizing the border and enriching the people and the multi-dimensional poverty alleviation in the border ethnic areas. Journal of Minzu University of China (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition) 47(6): 108–122. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.15970/j.cnki.1005-8575.2020.06.012
Wu CY, Xie FY (2010) Non-linear relationship between international tourism development and economic growth: a threshold panel data approach. Journal of Business Economics 1(2): 76–83. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.14134/j.cnki.cn33-1336/f.2010.02.010
Yang JM, Zhang LX, Su YY (2013) A comparison of the relationship between inbound tourism and economic growth between Fujian and Taiwan based on VAR model. Fujian Tribune 11: 146–150. (In Chinese)
Yang JC, Wang JL (2019) Review and prospect of tourism poverty alleviation in ethnic areas. Guizhou Ethnic Studies 40(8): 118–124. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13965/j.cnki.gzmzyj10026959.2019.08.019
Yang X (2015) Research on Ethnic Development Under the Influence of Tourism in Guizhou Minority Areas. (PhD thesis). Minzu University of China, Beijing. pp 62. (In Chinese)
Yu YX, Xie HF (2012) China’s turning points of business cycles on str model. Economic Theory and Economic Management 6: 15–22. (In Chinese)
Zhang R, Ji CX (2022) A study on the evolution process of knowledge transfer of rural tourism professional farmers in ethnic areas: a longitudinal case study of Longji terrace scenic spot area in Guangxi. Tourism Science 36(1): 50–72. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.16323/j.cnki.lykx.20220304.001
Zhang DP, Tu JH (2020) The double threshold effect of tourism reliance on economic growth in ethnic minority areas: based on the study of 75 ethnic autonomous counties. Journal of Hubei Minzu University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) 38(1): 38–45. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13501/j.cnki.42-1328/c.2020.01.004
Zhao J, Pan XJ, Pu CY (2019) Analysis on Targeted Poverty Alleviation Effect of Tourism in Minority Areas (Enshi Prefecture). Professional Committee of Teaching and Research of Guangxi Writing Society 1: 95–99. (In Chinese)
Zhao L, Fang C (2017) Non-linear threshold effect between tourism and economic growth: a panel smooth transition regression approach. Tourism Tribune 32(4): 20–32. (In Chinese)
Zhong W (2013) The Impact of Tourism Expansion on Urban Economic Growth. (PhD thesis). East China Normal University, Shanghai. pp 209–212. (In Chinese)
Zhou JK, Wang GD, Huang, ZX (2019) Does productivity improvement affect rural human capital accumulation? A micro-perspective study. Economic Research Journal 54(1): 100–115. (In Chinese)
Acknowledgements
The study is funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20CMZ033). Meanwhile, we really appreciate the hard work of Nong Shuangrui, Ren Hairong (undergraduate students, Central China Normal University) on data analysis in this paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic Supplementary Material
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Yj., Ouyang, Cx., Zhou, Sy. et al. Tourism dependence and poverty alleviation thresholds in Chinese ethnic tourism. J. Mt. Sci. 19, 3026–3036 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-022-7479-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-022-7479-2