Research Article

The contribution of air transportation on tourism sector and economic growth in Tanzania: An empirical analysis

Volume: 8 Number: 1 March 22, 2026

The contribution of air transportation on tourism sector and economic growth in Tanzania: An empirical analysis

Abstract

Air transport and tourism are closely related, as air transport enables tourists to easily access destinations, thereby promoting tourism and economic growth. Air transport also facilitates the movement of people, goods and services, supporting economic development. The growth of the tourism industry leads to an increase in demand for air transport services, which in turn stimulates the growth of the aviation sector and creates jobs. In light of these known facts, this paper used the ARDL model with a 21-year time series data from 2000 to 2020 to study the contribution of air transport to the tourism sector and economic growth. The results revealed that there exists only a short-run relationship between air transport and economic growth, of which the number of passengers carried portrayed a significant positive contribution. On the other hand, the contribution of air transport to tourism showed both long- and short-run relationships, of which, in the long run, only the passengers carried increased the tourism receipts positively, while in the short run, registered carrier departures increased the tourism receipts and passengers carried decreased the tourism receipts. Generally, the government should take serious actions in expanding the air transportation unit since it heavily contributes to the economy both directly and indirectly via the tourism sector. 

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Growth, Macroeconomics (Other), International Economics (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

March 18, 2026

Publication Date

March 22, 2026

Submission Date

August 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 1

APA
Utouh, H., & Lushiku, E. C. (2026). The contribution of air transportation on tourism sector and economic growth in Tanzania: An empirical analysis. Journal of Ekonomi, 8(1), 16-29. https://doi.org/10.58251/ekonomi.1768001
AMA
1.Utouh H, Lushiku EC. The contribution of air transportation on tourism sector and economic growth in Tanzania: An empirical analysis. JOE. 2026;8(1):16-29. doi:10.58251/ekonomi.1768001
Chicago
Utouh, Harold, and Eliya C. Lushiku. 2026. “The Contribution of Air Transportation on Tourism Sector and Economic Growth in Tanzania: An Empirical Analysis”. Journal of Ekonomi 8 (1): 16-29. https://doi.org/10.58251/ekonomi.1768001.
EndNote
Utouh H, Lushiku EC (July 1, 2026) The contribution of air transportation on tourism sector and economic growth in Tanzania: An empirical analysis. Journal of Ekonomi 8 1 16–29.
IEEE
[1]H. Utouh and E. C. Lushiku, “The contribution of air transportation on tourism sector and economic growth in Tanzania: An empirical analysis”, JOE, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 16–29, July 2026, doi: 10.58251/ekonomi.1768001.
ISNAD
Utouh, Harold - Lushiku, Eliya C. “The Contribution of Air Transportation on Tourism Sector and Economic Growth in Tanzania: An Empirical Analysis”. Journal of Ekonomi 8/1 (July 1, 2026): 16-29. https://doi.org/10.58251/ekonomi.1768001.
JAMA
1.Utouh H, Lushiku EC. The contribution of air transportation on tourism sector and economic growth in Tanzania: An empirical analysis. JOE. 2026;8:16–29.
MLA
Utouh, Harold, and Eliya C. Lushiku. “The Contribution of Air Transportation on Tourism Sector and Economic Growth in Tanzania: An Empirical Analysis”. Journal of Ekonomi, vol. 8, no. 1, July 2026, pp. 16-29, doi:10.58251/ekonomi.1768001.
Vancouver
1.Harold Utouh, Eliya C. Lushiku. The contribution of air transportation on tourism sector and economic growth in Tanzania: An empirical analysis. JOE. 2026 Jul. 1;8(1):16-29. doi:10.58251/ekonomi.1768001

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