Friends With Money? A Political???Economic Analysis of Chinese Foreign Aid-Induced Tourism Demand

• Yang, Fiona X ^[1] ; Yang, Gongyan ^[2] ; Li, Ying ^[3] ; Liu, Yize ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Macau

     University of Macau

     RAE de Macao (China)

     
  2. [2] Liaoning University

     Liaoning University

     China

     
  3. [3] Macau University of Science and Technology

     Macau University of Science and Technology

     RAE de Macao (China)

     

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• Localización: Tourism analysis, ISSN 1083-5423, Vol. 28, Nº. 4, 2023, págs. 603-624
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • From a political–economic perspective, this research examines the nexus between Chinese foreign aid and tourism demand in 138 recipient countries. Specifically, it investigates two mechanisms and their interplay: (1) an economic channel that entices an influx of international tourists through infrastructure development; and (2) a political channel that attracts Chinese tourists by diminishing political distance. A cross-country panel dataset on Chinese aid projects is analyzed. The results suggest that Chinese aid has a significant impact on Chinese tourists after a 1-year lag through the political channel, while the economic channel’s effect on Chinese/other international tourists is not salient within 5 years. Significant long-run equilibrium relationships are found between aid and both tourist segments. The economic effect emerges in the long term, while the political effect fades out. This study provides a novel political–economic perspective for tourism research and presents new insights into China’s soft power in global tourism