Acta Universitatis Danubius. Œconomica, Vol 15, No 5 (2019)

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of ICT on tourism growth in emerging markets using five panel data analysis methods (fixed effects, random effects, pooled OLS, FMOLS, dynamic GMM) with data ranging from 1996 to 2016. Majority of the theoretical and empirical literature shows that ICT has got a positive influence on tourism growth and development both in the long and short run. Although several empirical researchers have explored the subject matter, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study so far had investigated the impact of ICT on tourism in emerging markets as a bloc of countries. Overwhelmingly majority of the panel data analysis methods (fixed effects, random effects, FMOLS and dynamic GMM) shows that ICT had a significant positive influence on tourism growth and development in line with most theoretical predictions. The study therefore urges emerging markets to develop and implement ICT policies that ensures that tourism growth and development is enhanced. Future studies should investigate the macroeconomic variables that must be available in the emerging markets in order to enhance ICT’s positive influence on tourism growth and development.