Exploring Tourism and Income Inequality through the Kuznets Curve

Abstract

[eng] This research analyses the impact tourism has on income inequality through the Kuznets Curve. Tourism is assessed with two variables. First, with tourism revenue and second, with tourism specialization. The analysis uses a panel dataset from 1995 to 2018 in 72 countries. The empirical findings confirm the Kuznets Curve in its traditional form and within the tourism sector of developing countries. In addition, we find the Kuznets Curve and tourism Kuznets Curve for low tourism specialized countries. Our analysis of the interception of tourism specialization and the development stage of a country shows that we find the traditional Kuznets Curve and the tourism Kuznets Curve only in the combination of developing countries and low tourism specialized countries. Given the significance of the findings, our research contributes significantly to the body of knowledge on the issue of assessing tourism and income inequality through the Kuznets Curve.