The economic determinants of tourism in Central Asia: A gravity model applied approach

Abstract

This article explores the determinants of tourist arrivals to Central Asia using traditional gravity models and panel data analyses of 108 countries for the period 2008–2018. The research focuses on relevant variables such as income, relative price, travel costs, or the so-called economic determinants. The results reveal that tourism in Central Asia is considered to be more distance elastic and price inelastic. Tourists from North and South America regions are more travel costs elastic compared with Asia and the Pacific. Sharing a common language and border greatly increases the volume of tourism in Central Asia. The political instability in the destination has a negative effect on tourism flows. Conversely, political instability at the country of origin in the case of Asia and the Pacific significantly increases outbound flows especially to Central Asia, suggesting a different reason for travel.