Does digital economy help reduce carbon emissions from tourism? Evidence from China

In the context of global warming and the continued expansion of tourism, the issue of carbon emissions from tourism (CET) has become more prominent. Development of the digital economy provides a new opportunity to reduce CET. Using data from 30 provinces in China from 2004 to 2020, this study examines the direct effect of the digital economy on CET by employing the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM). An intermediate effects model is applied to explore its indirect transmission mechanism, and some heterogeneity is analyzed. The results indicate that digital economy plays a significant role in reducing CET. Energy structure, environmental governance and technological innovation are three important channels for the digital economy to influence CET. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that digital economy has a more pronounced decarbonisation effect in the eastern and central regions, while it is not significant in the western region. And the decarbonisation performance of the digital economy is enhanced in regions with an easier financial environment and more developed pollution abatement facilities. This study offers a theoretical and practical foundation for the low-carbon development of China’'s tourism industry. It also provides insights into the sustainable development of tourism in other countries.