Impacts of public service supply on the tourism industry in the high-speed rail era: Evidence from the central regions of China

Abstract

Using panel data encompassing Central China’s cities from 2008 to 2019, our study employs the Spatial Autoregression (SAR) and the Spatial Difference-in-Differences (SDID) models to assess both the localized and spillover effects of public service provision on tourism. Additionally, our research explores the pivotal role of High-Speed Rail (HSR) as a moderating factor, shedding light on its influence on the relationship between public service supply and the advancement of tourism. Our study reveals that public service supply exerts a significant and even substantial impact on tourism development. Moreover, it demonstrates that the provision of public services contributes positively to the growth of tourism in neighboring cities. Further analysis indicates that the introduction of HSR has a robust influence on enhancing public service supply to stimulate tourism development. These findings offer invaluable insights for the promotion of tourism development.