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Exploring and Evaluating the Impact of ICTs on Culture and Tourism Industries’ Convergence: Evidence from China

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  • Chunbo Zhou

    (Joint Institute of Ningbo University and University of Angers, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Marios Sotiriadis

    (Joint Institute of Ningbo University and University of Angers, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

Abstract

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) have been driving the digital revolution of all industries worldwide. Industrial convergence constitutes a new feature and trend of contemporary industrial development and has received extensive attention from the media and public. However, the interrelationship between the two concepts—industrial convergence and ICTs—remains under-researched. This paper aims to explore and evaluate the ICTs’ impact on industrial convergence by focusing on the interrelationship between culture and tourism. The study takes an industrial economics perspective with a specific focus on the multi-dimensional (direct, moderated, and threshold) effects. A research framework was suggested synthesizing three econometric models and encompassing three hypotheses. The research model was then empirically tested and validated through quantitative research using China’s provincial panel data from 2004 to 2018. The study’s findings indicate a positive influence/relationship between ICTs and market-oriented reforms in the culture and tourism industries’ convergence. Moreover, a positive labor-convergence relationship was found, while the negative government–convergence relationship was uncovered in control variables. Regarding the moderating effect, the interaction of ICTs and market-oriented reforms is positively correlated with industrial convergence. In addition, there is a single-threshold effect of consumer demand on the ICTs–convergence relationship. This article extends our knowledge in two ways by addressing the knowledge gap regarding the interrelationship between culture and tourism and by providing new insights into the influence of ICTs on this industrial convergence that has theoretical and practical implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Chunbo Zhou & Marios Sotiriadis, 2021. "Exploring and Evaluating the Impact of ICTs on Culture and Tourism Industries’ Convergence: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:11769-:d:664310
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    2. Chunyu Jiang & Seuk Wai Phoong, 2023. "A ten-year review analysis of the impact of digitization on tourism development (2012–2022)," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Hui Chen & Tianyi Chen & Long Li & Xiaoliang Chen & Jian Huang, 2022. "Testing Convergence of Tourism Development and Exploring Its Influencing Factors: Empirical Evidence from the Greater Bay Area in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-12, May.
    4. Tingting Fan & Zhongxuan Lin, 2022. "Toward Tourists–Media–Cities Tourism: Xi’an as a Wanghong City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Yihan Chi & Yongheng Fang & Jiamin Liu, 2022. "Spatial–Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Economic Effects of China’s Cultural and Tourism Industries’ Collaborative Agglomeration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-23, November.

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