How do national marine parks contribute to tourism eco-efficiency in coastal cities? The case of China.

Abstract

This research investigates how establishing national marine parks in China enhances marine tourism ecology. Analyzing data from 52 coastal cities between 2006 and 2019, it uses a multi-period difference-in-differences method to evaluate the parks' impact on tourism eco-efficiency. The results show that national marine parks significantly improve coastal cities' tourism eco-efficiency, especially in the Bohai Rim and seaside cities. The study attributes this improvement to the reduction of fixed asset investments, which controls the scale of tourism development. These findings provide vital insights for countries seeking to revitalize their marine tourism sectors through similar ecological restoration strategies.