Tourism-led growth or economy-driven tourism growth in Southeast Asian countries
Abstract The relationship between tourism and economic development in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries has long been debated, particularly concerning the tourism-led growth and economy-driven tourism growth hypotheses. This study investigates these competing perspectives,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Nature
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05594-1 |
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| author | Fei Fan Van-Trung Ha |
| author_facet | Fei Fan Van-Trung Ha |
| author_sort | Fei Fan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The relationship between tourism and economic development in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries has long been debated, particularly concerning the tourism-led growth and economy-driven tourism growth hypotheses. This study investigates these competing perspectives, analyzing how tourism and economic growth influence each other across 11 ASEAN nations using panel causality tests and structural equation modeling. Findings reveal that economic growth promotes tourism development in all eleven ASEAN states. However, in larger economies, tourism substantially impacts economic growth, while economic development has a lesser influence on tourism. In less-developed ASEAN countries, neither hypothesis shows definitive evidence. The study highlights tourism’s significant role in driving economic growth, particularly in more developed nations, and encourages sustainable tourism practices in less-developed economies. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion on tourism’s dual role in shaping economic outcomes within the ASEAN region, offering insights for policymakers and tourism industry stakeholders. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d2340116624a481397330635ffdb8afa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-d2340116624a481397330635ffdb8afa2025-08-24T11:13:39ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-08-0112111710.1057/s41599-025-05594-1Tourism-led growth or economy-driven tourism growth in Southeast Asian countriesFei Fan0Van-Trung Ha1Wuhan UniversityWuhan UniversityAbstract The relationship between tourism and economic development in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries has long been debated, particularly concerning the tourism-led growth and economy-driven tourism growth hypotheses. This study investigates these competing perspectives, analyzing how tourism and economic growth influence each other across 11 ASEAN nations using panel causality tests and structural equation modeling. Findings reveal that economic growth promotes tourism development in all eleven ASEAN states. However, in larger economies, tourism substantially impacts economic growth, while economic development has a lesser influence on tourism. In less-developed ASEAN countries, neither hypothesis shows definitive evidence. The study highlights tourism’s significant role in driving economic growth, particularly in more developed nations, and encourages sustainable tourism practices in less-developed economies. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion on tourism’s dual role in shaping economic outcomes within the ASEAN region, offering insights for policymakers and tourism industry stakeholders.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05594-1 |
| spellingShingle | Fei Fan Van-Trung Ha Tourism-led growth or economy-driven tourism growth in Southeast Asian countries Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Tourism-led growth or economy-driven tourism growth in Southeast Asian countries |
| title_full | Tourism-led growth or economy-driven tourism growth in Southeast Asian countries |
| title_fullStr | Tourism-led growth or economy-driven tourism growth in Southeast Asian countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tourism-led growth or economy-driven tourism growth in Southeast Asian countries |
| title_short | Tourism-led growth or economy-driven tourism growth in Southeast Asian countries |
| title_sort | tourism led growth or economy driven tourism growth in southeast asian countries |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05594-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT feifan tourismledgrowthoreconomydriventourismgrowthinsoutheastasiancountries AT vantrungha tourismledgrowthoreconomydriventourismgrowthinsoutheastasiancountries |