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How new airport infrastructure promotes tourism: evidence from a synthetic control approach in German regions

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  • Doerr, Luisa
  • Dorn, Florian
  • Gaebler, Stefanie
  • Potrafke, Niklas

Abstract

The paper examines how new airport infrastructure influences regional tourism. Identification is based on the conversion of a military airbase into a regional commercial airport in the German state of Bavaria. The new airport opened in 2007 and promotes travelling to the touristic region of Allgäu in the Bavarian Alps. A synthetic control approach is used to show that the new commercial airport increased tourism in the Allgäu region over the period 2008–16. The positive effect is especially pronounced in the county in which the airport is located. The results suggest that new transportation infrastructure promotes regional economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Doerr, Luisa & Dorn, Florian & Gaebler, Stefanie & Potrafke, Niklas, 2020. "How new airport infrastructure promotes tourism: evidence from a synthetic control approach in German regions," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 54(10), pages 1402-1412.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:224973
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2020.1714022
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    airports; tourism; regional development; transportation infrastructure; synthetic control method;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L93 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Air Transportation
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • Z38 - Other Special Topics - - Tourism Economics - - - Policy

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