The Impact of New Infrastructure Investment on the International Tourism Industry: Evidence from Provincial-Level Panel Data in China

After the end of the COVID-19 epidemic, the global tourism market is continuing to recover, and tourism is once again becoming a significant part of the national economies of many countries. This study used panel data from 31 provinces and cities in China between 2011 and 2019 for empirical testing, aiming to understand the contribution of new infrastructure investment in China to the international tourism industry. The research findings indicate that infrastructure investment in China had a positive impact on the development of international tourism. Infrastructure investment in China increased by 1%, with the number of inbound overnight tourists and international tourism revenue increasing by 0.373% and 0.570%, respectively. Mechanism analysis shows that transportation accessibility and information technology levels influenced international tourism; that is, new infrastructure investments improved the regional transportation environment and enhanced the level of information technology, which was beneficial for international tourism. In addition, there was apparent regional heterogeneity in the impact of new infrastructure investments in China on the international tourism industry. Overall, the conclusions drawn in this article are novel and provide vital policy implications for promoting the sustainable development of China’s tourism industry.