Climate change and the impact of religious tourism in Saudi Arabia’s energy landscape

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to illuminate the intricate dynamics among religious tourism, energy consumption, and climate change within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which stands as one of the globe’s principal reservoirs of petroleum energy resources. To accomplish this, we employ an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, utilizing a dataset that spans a pivotal political transition in the KSA. Notably, we undertake an examination of two temperature specifications, linear and non-linear, to discern their influence on the relationship between Islamic tourism, temperature variations, and electricity consumption. Our findings reveal a noteworthy contrast between the linear and non-linear models, bolstering the significance of our investigation. Furthermore, the results establish a robust long-term connection among these variables. Importantly, our analyses indicate that a surge in tourist numbers during periods of elevated temperatures positively correlates with heightened energy consumption, thereby contributing to environmental degradation. These findings bear significant implications for energy and tourism policies within Saudi Arabia, particularly in the context of the nation’s 2030 vision. By shedding light on these intricate interrelations, our study offers a valuable perspective for steering sustainable practices in the realms of energy consumption and tourism in the KSA.