The relationship between tourism and economic growth in Turkey: An analysis for post 2000

In this study, it is aimed to examine the relationship between tourism and economic growth theoretically and empirically for the Turkish economy. In the empirical analysis of the study, quarterly data for the 2003:1-2022:3 periods of the Turkish economy were used. The cointegration relationship between the variables was tested through the bound test. The short- and long-term relationships of the variables were analyzed with the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) method. In the last part of the analysis, the causality relationship between the variables was determined by using the Toda-Yamamoto Causality Test. According to the empirical analysis results, it is concluded that there is no cointegration relationship between tourism and economic growth variables. According to the ARDL model results, the effect of tourism on economic growth is statistically insignificant in the long run. According to the results of the error correction model, the short-term effect of tourism on economic growth is positive and statistically significant. The causality analysis indicates a bidirectional causality between economic growth and tourism, a bidirectonal causality between economic growth and exchange rate and an unidirectional causality from tourism to exchange rate.