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Lessening or deepening? The effects of digital economy on regional disparities of tourism development

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  • Kai Wang

    (Hunan Normal University)

  • Meilun Liu

    (Hunan Normal University)

  • Chang Gan

    (Wuhan Polytechnic University)

Abstract

The digital economy has reshaped the geography of tourism but its effect on regional tourism disparities remains unexplored. Based on provincial panel data in China from 2011 to 2022, this study explores the effect of the digital economy on regional disparities in tourism development. The results show that the digital economy regional disparities have a positive impact on the tourism development regional disparities, maintaining a positive influence throughout the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans, but the coefficient decreases in different years. When analyzed regionally, narrowing digital economy regional disparities is conducive to narrowing the tourism development regional disparities between the eastern and central regions. This study is informative for balancing the tourism distribution pattern and reducing regional economic inequalities in the digital era.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Wang & Meilun Liu & Chang Gan, 2025. "Lessening or deepening? The effects of digital economy on regional disparities of tourism development," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 1-30, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ecopln:v:58:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10644-025-09859-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10644-025-09859-2
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