Revisiting the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis in the MENA Region: The Roles of International Tourist Arrivals, Energy Consumption and Trade Openness

This paper employed advanced panel methods to examine the effects of international tourist arrivals on CO2 emissions in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over period 1995–2018. To analyze predictive power for emissions, Granger non-causality test was employed. Employing common correlated mean group estimator showed that arrival reduces while energy consumption trade openness are main contributors emissions. Results also although first-generation estimators confirmed Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, according CCE-MG estimator, an inverted U-shaped association between economic progress does not exist. Furthermore, null hypothesis non-Granger causality from rejected. The findings suggest taking a more sustainable approach tourism development conservation long run.