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Is the digital economy empowering high-quality tourism development? A theoretical and empirical research from China

Author

Listed:
  • Min Yu
  • Binbin Ma
  • Dan Liu
  • Aixia Zhang

Abstract

How digital economy (DE) empowers high-quality development of tourism (HQDT) has become a common concern among scholars. Given this, this study clarifies the theoretical connotation of DE enabling HQDT,and finds that: Micro, DE promotes efficiency improvements in tourism enterprises, with its economies of scale and Matthew effect reducing average costs, its economies of scope meeting diversified demand, and its long-tail effect improving supply-demand matching mechanism. Meso, DE can transform and upgrade tourism industry structure through industrial digitization and digital industrialization, and also form a new tourist industry form and value chain through cross-border integration. Macro, DE can stimulate innovation and flexibility of market players, increase new factor inputs in tourism, improve factor allocation efficiency, and advance macro regulation of the tourism market. Accordingly, the study conducts an empirical test based on panel data for 31 provinces in mainland China during 2011–2020. Results show that: ① DE positively influences HQDT, and the sub-dimensions all positively influence HQDT. ② DE has a heterogeneous impact on HQDT and shows spatial spillover effects. Finally, the study concludes with effective paths for DE promoting HQDT: "Promote digital infrastructure construction, accelerate tourism digital transformation, strengthen integration and innovation development, and overcome the challenges of tourism enterprises".

Suggested Citation

  • Min Yu & Binbin Ma & Dan Liu & Aixia Zhang, 2024. "Is the digital economy empowering high-quality tourism development? A theoretical and empirical research from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0303087
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303087
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Hao, Yu & Liu, Yiming & Weng, Jia-Hsi & Gao, Yixuan, 2016. "Does the Environmental Kuznets Curve for coal consumption in China exist? New evidence from spatial econometric analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1214-1223.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Zhaoyong & Zhao, Jingfang, 2026. "Digital economy-driven sports industry: The synergistic effects of data factorization and tourism upgrading," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    2. Cheng, Lin, 2026. "Digital economy and high-quality tourism development: Roles of environmental regulations and foreign direct investments," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    3. Wang, Peigen & Hu, Yingying & Wei, Na & Wu, Xiaoxu, 2026. "Dual pathways for high-quality development: The role of cultural tourism integration and digital-intelligent transformation in Chinese tourism enterprises," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    4. Wang, Jing & Zhang, Xuebing & Tian, Qianhai, 2026. "Digital-intelligent transformation, financing constraints, and the high-quality development of tourism enterprises," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).

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