How does high-speed railway affect tourism efficiency? An empirical study in China

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between high-speed railway (HSR) and tourism efficiency using a difference-in-differences (DID) model and a global data envelopment analysis (DEA) decomposition analytical framework with a sample of 280 cities in China from 2003 to 2018. We provide both robust estimates of tourism efficiency and scrutiny of whether and how the opening of HSR affects tourism efficiency. The findings reveal that the opening of HSR can contribute to efficiency growth, largely due to its role in optimising resource allocation. However, HSR can also negatively affect efficiency growth by widening the technological gap between regions. Furthermore, the promoting effect of HSR on tourism efficiency presents significant regional heterogeneity, warranting the adoption of targeted supporting policies.

KEYWORDS:

• HSR
• tourism efficiency
• global DEA
• DID
• decomposition analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Sichuan Province Science and Technology Plan Project under Grant [number 2020YFS0062].