Urban Networks and Tourism Development: Analyzing the Relationship Between Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Rankings and Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI)

Tourism is a key component of many global cities, contributing to their development. This paper examines the relationship between the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) and the Presence of Global Cities (PGC). Using linear regression models, we analyzed this relationship across different regions and income groups based on a sample of 119 countries, focusing on how variations in PGC are associated with changes in TTDI scores. We analyzed data and results from 2019 (pre-COVID-19), 2021 (during COVID-19), and 2024 (post-COVID-19). The analysis revealed a consistent positive relationship between the PGC and the TTDI across these years, suggesting that countries with higher PGC levels generally achieve higher TTDI scores, emphasizing the important role of global city performance in tourism development. Moreover, the results indicated that while the relationship between global city performance and tourism development is stable over time, it varies across regions and income groups. These findings underscore the importance of global city performance in boosting tourism development and competitiveness, offering valuable insights for policymakers and guiding future research.