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on Tourism Economics |
| By: | Ramaharo, Franck M. |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the asymmetric relationship between tourism development and economic growth in Madagascar using the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model and annual data spanning 1984-2024. Our analysis reveals a statistically significant, long-run asymmetric impact. Negative changes in tourist arrivals exert a substantially stronger adverse effect on economic growth than the positive effect of equivalent increases. Furthermore, we investigate both symmetric and asymmetric causal linkages between tourism and economic growth. The symmetric causality analysis detects neither bidirectional nor unidirectional causality. This result, therefore, provides support for the neutrality hypothesis in Madagascar. However, the asymmetric causality test uncovers unidirectional effects running from economic growth to tourism. Specifically, positive shocks to economic growth Granger-cause subsequent negative shocks to tourism, while negative shocks to economic growth Granger-cause subsequent positive shocks to tourism. This pattern, which is consistent with the asymmetric conservation hypothesis, along with our empirical findings, collectively cautions against treating tourism as a primary engine of economic growth in Madagascar. Instead, our results highlight tourism's vulnerability to macroeconomic and financial instability and underscore the need for policies that stabilize the broader economy to ensure sustained tourism performance. |
| Keywords: | tourism development; economic growth; financial development; Madagascar; asymmetric analysis; Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag modeling |
| JEL: | L83 O16 O47 |
| Date: | 2025–10–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:126422 |
| By: | Zsófia, Tóth; Ágoston, Szabó; Aušra, Balčiūnaitė; Inna, Sorina; Nilsson, Tørbjörn |
| Abstract: | Tourism is one of the world’s most labour-intensive sectors, generating employment across hospitality, transport, retail, and cultural industries. Yet, despite its contributions to economic growth, tourism employment is often characterized by precarity, informality, and vulnerability to external shocks. This literature review synthesizes recent scholarship (2023–2025) on the relationship between tourism and labour markets, with particular attention to the disruptions and transformations triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The review identifies three central themes: the quantity versus quality of jobs, the growing emphasis on sustainability and skills development, and persistent challenges of equity and inclusivity. Empirical studies from Europe, Asia, and beyond demonstrate that while tourism can stimulate local labour markets and generate spillover effects, employment outcomes are highly contingent upon regulatory frameworks, institutional strength, and regional economic structures. The discussion highlights tensions between flexibility and security in tourism employment, the underrepresentation of worker experiences, and the uneven geographical focus of current research. Identified gaps include the need for longitudinal and mixed-method studies, intersectional analyses of inclusivity, and investigations into the role of technology in reshaping the workforce. The paper concludes that tourism remains both a promise and a paradox for labour markets: it creates employment opportunities but also reproduces inequalities and vulnerabilities. Future research and policy must therefore focus on integrating tourism into broader labour market strategies, ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and resilient employment in the 21st century. |
| Keywords: | Tourism employment; labour markets; workforce sustainability; inclusivity; labour regulations; COVID-19 recovery; gender inequality; informality; skills development; economic resilienc |
| JEL: | J0 |
| Date: | 2025–09–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:126179 |
| By: | O'Connor, Mary-Jane; Yılmaz, Barış; Borgers, Nicholas; Fedotova, Zoya |
| Abstract: | Tourism is a major contributor to European employment, yet the sector is characterized by part-time work, seasonal fluctuations, informal employment, and gender disparities. This paper synthesizes recent empirical evidence and numerical data from Eurostat, OECD, and national case studies in Poland, Greece, and Italy to examine post-pandemic tourism labour market trends. Findings show that while tourism creates substantial employment—including spillover jobs in retail and transport—vulnerabilities persist, particularly for informal and female workers. For example, in Greece, 12–15% of tourism jobs are informal, while in Poland, employment dropped 28% during the COVID-19 pandemic, later recovering to ~90% of pre-pandemic levels. The analysis also highlights the role of labour market regulations, workforce sustainability, and skills development in shaping employment outcomes. Policy recommendations focus on balancing flexibility with security, promoting gender equity, supporting workforce development, and utilizing data-driven monitoring. The paper concludes that tourism employment can evolve from a source of vulnerability into a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable sector, provided that regulatory, social, and training interventions are effectively implemented. |
| Keywords: | Tourism employment; labour market dynamics; informal work; gender disparities; post-pandemic recovery |
| JEL: | J01 |
| Date: | 2025–08–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:126180 |
| By: | Martin-Fuentes, Eva; Mellinas, Juan Pedro; Fernández, Cèsar; Font, Xavier (University of Surrey) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates whether consumer ratings of hotel eco-friendliness reflect actual sustainability performance. Using data from 6, 696 hotels in the world’s 100 leading destinations, we compared Expedia’s post-travel, customer-submitted eco-friendliness ratings with sustainability information reported on Booking.com, including both self-reported practices and third-party certifications. Support Vector Machine regression analysis shows that eco-friendliness ratings are explained almost entirely by overall guest satisfaction, with sustainability indicators contributing little explanatory power. This suggests that ratings conflate general service impressions with perceptions of environmental responsibility, limiting their value as measures of sustainability performance. While plausible explanations such as response biases and the limited salience of many certified practices warrant further research, our findings provide robust evidence that single survey items on eco-friendliness should be interpreted with caution. For platforms and policymakers, the results highlight the need to make sustainability cues more visible and directly tied to the consumer experience if ratings are to support informed choice. |
| Date: | 2025–10–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:dyz5e_v1 |