The intermediate role of tourism development in the impact of economic growth on human development: A research on Mediterranean countries

Most international organizations that recognize the importance of tourism for economic growth have started to argue that tourism growth can also affect the economic and socio-cultural development of the society. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a method used to measure the success or failure of a country or region in the field of human development. The economic growth of Mediterranean countries and their tourism sectors is crucial to improving the HDI. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine whether the economic growth experienced in some countries as a result of the expansion of tourism activity in the last two decades affects the increase in the level of human development. For this purpose, the relationship between economic growth, human development and tourism development was investigated using the Structural Equation Model, using the Economic, Tourism and Human Development Index data of 15 Mediterranean countries for the years 2000-2019. As a result of the research, it was found that economic growth has a positive and significant effect on human development and tourism development, and tourism development has a positive and significant effect on human development. In addition, it has been concluded that the development of tourism plays a partial mediating role between economic growth and human development.