Research Article

Tourism's “Financial Dutch Disease”: Regional evidence on foreign exchange abundance and local household saving preferences

Volume: 11 Number: 2 August 30, 2026

Tourism's “Financial Dutch Disease”: Regional evidence on foreign exchange abundance and local household saving preferences

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of increases in tourism-related foreign exchange inflows on individuals' financial behaviour in Türkiye. While numerous studies have examined the Dutch Disease in the real sector, limited studies have examined its effects on household investment behaviour specifically in the service sector. This phenomenon, referred to as the “Financial Dutch Disease”, is analysed in this study to show the impact of tourism intensity on individuals' demand for foreign exchange deposit accounts (FX deposit accounts) for a sample of 81 provinces in Türkiye for the period 2015-2023. The findings indicate a strong positive relationship between tourism growth and the share of FX deposit accounts. According to the main model, a one-unit increase in the number of foreign tourists per capita increases the FX deposit account share of total deposits in a province by an average of 4.35 percent. Conducted heterogeneity analyses indicate that this effect is more pronounced in financially less developed regions. Dynamic analyses indicate that the effect carries over to the following year but diminishes over time. These results clearly demonstrate that tourism-related foreign exchange abundance has led locals to resort to currency substitution, creating a form of "Financial Dutch Disease." The study expands the Dutch Disease literature to include the financial consequences of tourism as a service sector and offers important implications for policymakers by highlighting the potential impact of tourism on regional financial stability.

Keywords

Financial Dutch Disease, Tourism Economics, Household Finance, Currency Substitution, Regional Economics

References

  1. Acosta, P. A., Lartey, E. K., & Mandelman, F. S. (2009). Remittances and the Dutch Disease. Journal of International Economics, 79(1), 102-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2009.06.007
  2. Aghion, P., Bacchetta, P., Ranciere, R., & Rogoff, K. (2009). Exchange rate volatility and productivity growth: The role of financial development. Journal of Monetary Economics, 56(4), 494-513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoneco.2009.03.015
  3. Akça, E. E., & Bal, H. (2017). Yurtdışı işçi gelirleri ve Hollanda Hastalığı: Seçilmiş ülkeler için bir panel veri analizi. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, 12(2), 49-64. https://doi.org/10.17153/oguiibf.310348
  4. Akkoç, S. (2023). 2018 Kur şoku ve Türkiye ekonomisine yansımaları. International Review of Economics and Management, 11(2), 75-96. https://doi.org/10.18825/iremjournal.1366215
  5. Arı, A., & Özcan, B. (2012). Hollanda Hastalığı: Gelişmekte olan ülkeler üzerine bir uygulama. Sosyoekonomi, 18(18), 153-172. https://doi.org/10.17233/se.30588
  6. BDDK (2025). Bankacılık Düzenleme ve Denetleme Kurumu, https://www.bddk.org.tr/bultenfinturk (accessed: 10.07.2025)
  7. Beckerman, P., & Solimano, A. (2002). Crisis and Dollarization in Ecuador: Stability, Growth, and Social Equity. USA: The World Bank. https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ypfs-documents/14915
  8. Beckmann, E., & Stix, H. (2015). Foreign currency borrowing and knowledge about exchange rate risk. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 112, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2014.12.015
  9. Bernoth, K., & Herwartz, H. (2021). Exchange rates, foreign currency exposure and sovereign risk. Journal of International Money and Finance, 117, 102454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jimonfin.2021.102454
  10. Bhattacharyya, S., & Hodler, R. (2014). Do natural resource revenues hinder financial development? The role of political institutions. World Development, 57, 101-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.12.003
APA
Medetoğlu, B., Kavas, Y. B., Saldanlı, A., & Günay, F. (2026). Tourism’s “Financial Dutch Disease”: Regional evidence on foreign exchange abundance and local household saving preferences. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism, 11(2), 323-337. https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.2026-11-2-323
AMA
1.Medetoğlu B, Kavas YB, Saldanlı A, Günay F. Tourism’s “Financial Dutch Disease”: Regional evidence on foreign exchange abundance and local household saving preferences. Jomat. 2026;11(2):323-337. doi:10.31822/jomat.2026-11-2-323
Chicago
Medetoğlu, Batuhan, Yusuf Bahadır Kavas, Arif Saldanlı, and Fatih Günay. 2026. “Tourism’s ‘Financial Dutch Disease’: Regional Evidence on Foreign Exchange Abundance and Local Household Saving Preferences”. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism 11 (2): 323-37. https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.2026-11-2-323.
EndNote
Medetoğlu B, Kavas YB, Saldanlı A, Günay F (August 1, 2026) Tourism’s “Financial Dutch Disease”: Regional evidence on foreign exchange abundance and local household saving preferences. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism 11 2 323–337.
IEEE
[1]B. Medetoğlu, Y. B. Kavas, A. Saldanlı, and F. Günay, “Tourism’s ‘Financial Dutch Disease’: Regional evidence on foreign exchange abundance and local household saving preferences”, Jomat, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 323–337, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.31822/jomat.2026-11-2-323.
ISNAD
Medetoğlu, Batuhan - Kavas, Yusuf Bahadır - Saldanlı, Arif - Günay, Fatih. “Tourism’s ‘Financial Dutch Disease’: Regional Evidence on Foreign Exchange Abundance and Local Household Saving Preferences”. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism 11/2 (August 1, 2026): 323-337. https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.2026-11-2-323.
JAMA
1.Medetoğlu B, Kavas YB, Saldanlı A, Günay F. Tourism’s “Financial Dutch Disease”: Regional evidence on foreign exchange abundance and local household saving preferences. Jomat. 2026;11:323–337.
MLA
Medetoğlu, Batuhan, et al. “Tourism’s ‘Financial Dutch Disease’: Regional Evidence on Foreign Exchange Abundance and Local Household Saving Preferences”. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism, vol. 11, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 323-37, doi:10.31822/jomat.2026-11-2-323.
Vancouver
1.Batuhan Medetoğlu, Yusuf Bahadır Kavas, Arif Saldanlı, Fatih Günay. Tourism’s “Financial Dutch Disease”: Regional evidence on foreign exchange abundance and local household saving preferences. Jomat. 2026 Aug. 1;11(2):323-37. doi:10.31822/jomat.2026-11-2-323