Structural Determinants of Tourism-Led Economic Growth: A Meta-Analytic Review

The relationship between tourism development and economic growth has been extensively studied through the lens of the tourism-led growth hypothesis. Despite the abundance of literature on the hypothesis, empirical results vary depending on the country or methodological approach. This study proposes a meta-analytic review to examine the structural determinants shaping the tourism-led economic growth hypothesis. The methodological approach is based on the PRISMA 2020 and MOOSE guidelines, which ensure the rigorous selection and analysis of the 45 studies from Scopus and Google Scholar included in this review. The results highlight a statistically significant relationship between tourism development and economic growth. However, the magnitude of this effect varies considerably depending on structural conditions and methodological characteristics. Environmental factors, regional contexts, and sectoral and institutional structures were identified as the main moderators of this relationship. By synthesizing fragmented empirical evidence, this study provides a nuanced understanding of the structural determinants shaping the tourism-led economic growth hypothesis. The findings contribute to the theoretical debate by identifying contextual factors that amplify or hinder the effectiveness of economic development strategies targeting the tourism sector. From a policy perspective, the tourism sector has shown that it can support economic growth when it is backed by favorable institutional conditions and the right infrastructure.