Economic Development, Renewable Energy Use, and International Tourism: Strategic Approaches to Carbon Emission Reduction in SICA Countries

Gazeloğlu C., Erkılıç E.

SUSTAINABILITY, cilt.17, ss.1-22, 2025 (SSCI)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 17
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3390/su17051995
  • Dergi Adı: SUSTAINABILITY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Geobase, INSPEC, Metadex, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-22
  • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study analyzes the dynamic relationships among economic growth, international tourism, renewable energy use, and carbon emissions in the member countries of the Central American Inter-American Integration System(SICA). Conducted using a panel dataset, it was found that economic growth and international tourismincreased carbon emissions. On the other hand, it was found that renewable energy usage significantly reduced emissions. The study evaluates the environmental impacts of economic growth in the context of the environmental Kuznets curve and carbon intensity theory. The study also suggests that low-carbon and renewable energy-based tourismpractices strengthen both environmental sustainability and long-termeconomic resilience within the scope of the Energy Transition Theory. In the study, a panel dataset consisting of 140 observations fromSICA countries from2001 to 2020 was used, and the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) model was applied. As a result, the long-term relationships between the variables were verified with the help of panel cointegration tests. The findings reveal that holistic and long-termpolicy strategies based on the interaction of economic growth, renewable energy use, and the tourism sector should be developed in order to achieve sustainable development goals in SICA countries.