The Role of Information Technology in the Validity of the Tourism-Induced Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis: The Case of Türkiye

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the impact of tourism sector and information and communication technologies on environmental pollution. For this purpose, the relationship between information and communication technologies (ICTs), the tourism sector, economic growth and CO2 emissions has been empirically analyzed for the first time for Turkey and the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis has been tested. In this context, data for the 1985-2021 compiled from World Bank were estimated using the ARDL method. Our empirical model show the validation of the tourism-induced Environmental Kuznets Curve for Turkey. Every income increase after reaching the turning point of Turkey’s income level of 1.47 trillion US dollars will reduce CO2 emissions. Another important findings of the study is that the increase in the number of tourist visitors reduces CO2 emssions, while developments in information and communication technologies worsen the quality of the environment. This shows that ICTs have not yet achieved the desired efficiency gains in various production activities including tourism, and have led to a significant amount of fossil fuel consumption. Thus, it’s understood that diversification of the tourism activities, the increase in the number of tourists and the development of smart practices that will lead to reduction of the use of energy and other resources and achievement of efficiency gains by the ICTs, are important policies towards sustainable economic growth.

Keywords

• Tourism
• Information and communication technologies
• Environmental Kuznets
• curve
• ARDL
• Türkiye

Turizm Kaynaklı Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi Hipotezinin Geçerliliğinde Bilgi İşlem Teknolojilerinin Rolü: Türkiye Örneği

Abstract

Araştırmanın amacı, turizm sektörünün ve bilgi işlem teknolojilerinin çevre kirliliği üzerindeki etkisini belirlemektir. Bu amaçla bilgi işlem teknolojileri (BİT), turizm sektörü , ekonomik büyüme ve CO2 emisyonları arasındaki ilişki Türkiye için ilk kez ampirik olarak araştırılmış ve Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi hipotezinin geçerliliği test edilmiştir. Bu kapsamda Dünya Bankası’ndan derlenen 1985-2021 dönemi verileri ARDL yöntemi ile tahmin edilmiştir. Ampirik model sonuçlarımız turizm kaynaklı Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi hipotezinin Türkiye için geçerli olduğunu göstermektedir. Türkiye için dönüm noktasını ifade eden gelir seviyesi olan 1.47 trilyon dolara ulaşıldıktan sonraki her gelir artışı CO2 emisyonunu azaltacaktır. Çalışmanın diğer önemli bulgusu turistik amaçlı ziyaretçi sayısındaki artış CO2 emisyonunu düşürürken, bilgi işlem teknolojilerindeki gelişmeler çevre kalitesini bozmaktadır. Bu durum BİT’lerinin turizm dahil diğer üretim faaliyetlerinde istenilen verim artışlarını henüz sağlayamadığını ve önemli miktarda fosil yakıt kullanımına neden olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu bağlamda turizm sektöründe çeşitlendirmenin artırılarak turist sayısının artırılmasının ve BİT’lerin enerji ve diğer kaynak kullanımını azaltımına neden olacak akıllı uygulamarın geliştirilerek verimlilik artışlarının sağlanmasının sürüdürülebilir ekonomik büyüme açısından önemli politikalar olduğu anlaşılmaktadır.

Keywords

• Turizm
• Bilgi işlem teknolojileri
• Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi
• ARDL
• Türkiye

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