If tourism pollutes the environment: Can regulatory quality or government effectiveness moderate the pollution?

This study examines the environmental impact of tourism in 27 African countries from 2000 to 2020, with a focus on the moderating roles of regulatory quality and government effectiveness. Using a series of estimation methods (FMOLS, CCR, FGLS, SGMM), the study shows that increased tourist arrivals significantly heighten environmental pollution, validating the early-stage Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Although regulatory quality and government effectiveness independently reduce emissions, their interaction with tourism remains positive and significant, indicating that existing institutions cannot offset tourism’s environmental consequences. This suggests that, despite some institutional strength, Africa’s governance capacity is insufficient to ensure tourism-led growth is environmentally sustainable. To address this gap, the study recommends strengthening regulatory institutions, enhancing enforcement capacity, expanding renewable energy use, and integrating environmental accountability into tourism policies. Governance reforms that prioritise implementation, coordination, and policy coherence are crucial to ensuring that tourism contributes to economic development without accelerating environmental degradation.