The effects of tourism and growth on environmental pollution: The example of Mediterranean countries

The aim of this study is to try to reveal the effects of tourism activities on carbon emissions for the Mediterranean region countries where the world's intense tourism activities are carried out. The analysis period covers the period 1995-2018. According to the results obtained, it has been seen that there is no effect on carbon emissions when tourism revenues are considered alone. On the other hand, when tourism revenues are considered together with the interaction variable, it is seen that the increase in tourism revenues increases carbon emissions in both regimes and the interaction variable decreases carbon emissions only in the second regime. The increase in the number of tourists, taken alone, reduces carbon emissions. On the other hand, when the number of tourists is considered together with the interaction variable, it is seen that the increase in the number of tourists increases the carbon emission in the second regime and the interaction variable decreases the carbon emission only in the second regime. According to these results, it is seen that significant and expected results cannot be obtained when tourism income and number of tourists are considered alone. However, when the interaction of tourism variables with the population of the countries is considered together, significant results emerge.